Become a Certified Lifeguard in Cumberland County with ALA

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

Swimming is one of the most popular recreational activities in the United States, and communities rely on trained lifeguards to keep aquatic spaces safe. With seasonal programs, public and private facilities, and water-based activities, Cumberland County benefits from lifeguards who can maintain strong surveillance and respond effectively when incidents occur. Demand often increases during warmer months when swim participation rises and aquatic venues expand staffing.

Lifeguards in Cumberland County

Lifeguards serve at beaches, waterparks, lakes, and swimming pools throughout Cumberland County to protect swimmers. With a variety of aquatic settings, lifeguarding can be a rewarding role for individuals who want an active job while supporting public safety.

Lifeguard training in Cumberland County is the first step toward building a career in aquatics. Once certified by a respected organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), candidates become well-positioned to pursue employment at aquatic facilities and demonstrate readiness for professional responsibilities.

ALA offers multiple lifeguard training programs and certifications. While interest often peaks in summer, training and employment opportunities can extend beyond the season due to indoor pools and ongoing aquatic programs that may operate year-round in Cumberland County.

With more than 30 years of experience, ALA has trained lifeguards who serve communities worldwide. Certification through ALA provides a credential that many employers recognize and reflects a strong commitment to safety and professionalism in Cumberland County.

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 achieve this, ALA works directly with employers and aquatic facilities to train lifeguards and strengthen safety practices in Cumberland 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 programs with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Training reflects recognized emergency care science (ECC) and lifeguarding best practices. In addition, ALA emphasizes employer readiness, including pre-service evaluations and ongoing in-service training aligned with Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) recommendations—supporting safer aquatic operations in Cumberland County.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Cumberland County

To enroll in the American Lifeguard Association’s lifeguard course in Cumberland County, candidates must meet the minimum age requirements generally recognized 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 the following ALA 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 starting point with the object

• Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

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

Lifeguarding in Cumberland County: Long-Term Career Options

Although many view lifeguarding as a seasonal job, it can grow into a long-term profession in Cumberland County. Year-round employment may be available at indoor pools and aquatic facilities, and lifeguards can pursue additional training to advance into roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Supervisor or Manager

These roles may offer higher earning potential, leadership opportunities, and the chance to build a career focused on public health and safety in Cumberland County.

Learning Skills with Lifeguard Training in Cumberland County

During the ALA lifeguard training course, participants develop a comprehensive set of skills 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 primary role of lifeguard training is to prepare individuals to keep swimmers safe through continuous surveillance, professional rescue response, and effective emergency care. Lifeguards often monitor their area from a raised chair to improve visibility, patrol open water zones when needed, and use standard rescue equipment during incidents.

The American Lifeguard Association is recognized as a leading aquatic health and safety training provider with more than 30 years of experience. ALA delivers training guided by a strict code of ethics and a commitment to quality instruction.

For lifeguard training in Cumberland 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.