Become a Certified Lifeguard in Chesterfield County with ALA

If you visit beaches, swimming pools, or aquatic facilities in Chesterfield County, you will notice lifeguards on duty to help keep everyone safe. A lifeguard’s essential role is to prevent accidents and respond quickly in emergencies, which requires specialized training. Lifeguard training in Chesterfield County serves this purpose, preparing individuals to protect swimmers at pools, waterparks, lakes, and waterfront environments.

Chesterfield County has a strong culture of recreation, fitness, and family activities, and swimming is one of the most popular ways to stay active. With public pools, private facilities, aquatic centers, and seasonal programs, the demand for trained lifeguards remains steady especially during peak swim seasons when participation increases and facilities require additional staff to maintain safe supervision.

Lifeguards in Chesterfield County

Lifeguards serve at swimming pools, aquatic centers, waterparks, lakes, and other supervised swim areas in Chesterfield County to help ensure swimmer safety. Because aquatic venues operate on schedules that often expand during warmer months, lifeguarding offers consistent opportunities for those seeking seasonal work, part-time roles, or long-term placement in the aquatics field.

Lifeguard training in Chesterfield County is the first step toward building a pathway in aquatics. Once certified through a respected organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), candidates become positioned to apply for lifeguard roles and demonstrate readiness to work in professional aquatic settings.

ALA training programs are designed to develop real-world lifeguarding competence, including surveillance skills, rescue response, CPR/AED, and First Aid. With professional instruction and skills-based evaluations, participants gain confidence and readiness for the demands of the role.

About the American Lifeguard Association

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is supported by Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing drownings and improving aquatic safety.

ALA’s mission is to make swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer. To support this mission, ALA works directly with employers and aquatic facilities to train lifeguard professionals and promote consistent, high-quality safety practices in Chesterfield County.

ALA has been referenced by public health and safety organizations, including:

• The CDC Healthy Swimming Program
• The U.S. Department of Labor
• The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

Since the early 1990s, ALA has aligned its training programs with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. ALA training is built around recognized emergency care science (ECC) and professional lifeguarding best practices. In addition, ALA programs emphasize employer readiness, including pre-service evaluations and ongoing in-service training aligned with the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) recommendations—supporting safer aquatic operations in Chesterfield County.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Chesterfield County

To enroll in the American Lifeguard Association’s lifeguard training course in Chesterfield County, candidates must meet minimum age requirements typically used for aquatic employment:

• 15 years or older to work at a swimming pool, waterpark, or lake

• 16 years or older to work at a beach or waterfront facility

Candidates must also demonstrate prerequisite skills to complete the program:

Swim Requirement

Swim 300 yards continuously, using the following strokes:

• 100 yards of front crawl with rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propulsive kick

• 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breath, kick, and glide sequence

• 100 yards of either front crawl or breaststroke (or a combination of both)

Timed Skill Event

Complete the following sequence within 1 minute and 40 seconds:

• Start in the water and swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke

• Surface dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object

• Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the start while holding the object

• Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

Upon successful completion, each participant receives an American Lifeguard Certificate indicating Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid, valid for two years.

Lifeguarding in Chesterfield County: Long-Term Career Options

Although many people view lifeguarding as a seasonal job, it can grow into a long-term professional path in Chesterfield County. Year-round opportunities may be available at indoor aquatic facilities, and additional training can open doors to higher-responsibility roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Supervisor or Manager

These positions may offer stronger earning potential, leadership development, and a meaningful career centered on public safety and wellness.

Learning Skills with Lifeguard Training in Chesterfield County

During the ALA lifeguard training course, participants develop a comprehensive skill set across rescue techniques, CPR/AED, and First Aid.

Rescue Skills

• Slide-In Entry

• Stride and Compact Jumps

• Rescue Approach (front crawl or breaststroke)

• Simple Assist

• Extension Assist from the Deck

• Reaching and Throwing Assists

• Swimming Extension Rescue

• Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rescues

• Two-Person Removal with a Backboard

• Passive Submerged Victim in Shallow Water

• Multiple-Victim Rescue

• Feet-First Surface Dive

• Submerged Victim Recovery in Deep Water

• Front and Rear Head-Hold Escapes

• Caring for Head, Neck, or Back Injuries

• Manual In-Line Stabilization on land (lying down, sitting, or standing)

• Using a Backboard for a Standing Victim

• Head Splint Techniques (face-up and face-down, shallow or deep water)

• Head and Chin Support (face-up and face-down, shallow or deep water)

• In-Line Stabilization for Submerged Victims

• Using a Backboard in Shallow and Deep Water

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Skills

• Removing Gloves and Performing an Initial Assessment

• Rescue Breathing (adult, child, infant)

• Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator (two rescuers)

• Conscious and Unconscious Choking (adult, child, infant)

• CPR (one-rescuer and two-rescuer for adult, child, infant)

• AED Use (adult and child)

First Aid Skills

• Secondary Assessment

• Controlling External Bleeding

• Applying Slings, Binders, Anatomic, and Soft Splints

Final Skill Scenarios

• Active Drowning Victim

• Submerged Passive Drowning Victim

• Head, Neck, or Back Injury

The Final Wave

The purpose of lifeguard training is to prepare individuals to protect swimmers with professionalism and speed. Lifeguards often supervise from a raised chair to improve visibility, scan their assigned zone continuously, and respond immediately when help is needed. In larger areas, lifeguards may patrol and use standard rescue equipment to maintain safety.

The American Lifeguard Association is recognized as a leading aquatic health and safety training provider with over 30 years of experience. ALA delivers training guided by professional ethics, safety standards, and a commitment to high-quality instruction.

For lifeguard training in Chesterfield County, if you are searching for “lifeguard training near me,” the American Lifeguard Association is the right choice. For more information on ALA lifeguard training and certification programs, please contact us.