Water Safety and Lifeguarding

The American Red Cross has been the leader in swimming and lifeguard training since 1914. The Southern Nevada Chapter, in partnership with authorized aquatics authorized providers, carries on that great tradition.

FOR CHILDREN
In American Red Cross water safety classes, children develop swimming readiness by learning safety tips that they can understand and through encouragement to have fun in the water.

Raffy Learns to Swim (Course Length Varies)
With this program, children, between 6 months and 5-years-old, learn skills including water entry, bubble blowing, front kicking, back floating and underwater exploration during guided practice sessions. Raffy the Duck, an animated character, appears throughout the program’s lesson plans.

Waddles In the Deep (Course Length Varies)
This program is designed to reinforce basic safety messages and skills through various informative, kid-friendly activities. Waddles the Duck, an animated character, appears throughout the program’s lesson plans.

Longfellow's WHALE Tales (Course Length Varies)
This program is custom-made for 5-to-12-year-olds to inform them about safe behavior in and around the water. Longfellow the Whale, an animated character, appears throughout lesson plans, color posters, worksheets, activities and a video.

FOR PRE-TEENS AND TEENS
Guard Start: Lifeguarding Tomorrow (Course Length Varies)
This course offers 11-to-14-year olds a preview of a lifeguard's work.
FOR TEENS AND ADULTS
Community Water Safety (4-5 Hours)
In this class, participants learn about water hazards in pools and other water environments including water parks, lakes, rivers and oceans. Students will have safety training in drowning and injury prevention and how to rescue themselves and others if a problem arises.

Lifeguarding - Skills to Help You Build Your Future (28 Hours of Training)
If you're 15 or older and looking for a great summer job or a challenging career, check out American Red Cross Lifeguarding! Lifeguarding is exciting, beneficial work. You could save lives and help people safely enjoy the water. Also, you can develop skills and experience in thinking on your feet, taking charge of situations and dealing effectively with people. These qualities are impressive to universities and future employers.

What You Will Learn
Through American Red Cross lifeguard classroom instruction and hands-on practice, you'll learn:
• Surveillance skills to help you recognize and prevent injuries
• Rescue skills in the water and on land
• First aid training and professional rescuer-level CPR
• Professional lifeguard responsibilities such as interacting with
the public and addressing uncooperative patrons

American Red Cross Lifeguarding also offers these optional training modules to develop more skills:
• Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
• Bloodborne Pathogens (Preventing Disease Transmission)
• Oxygen Administration
• Waterfront Lifeguarding
• Waterpark Lifeguarding

Please note that the Southern Nevada Chapter does not have a pool facility. The water safety and lifeguard training is held at the pool facilities of the following authorized aquatic providers:

Club Sport Green Valley - 454-6000

Clark County Parks and Recreation  - 455-8200 

City of Las Vegas Leisure Services - 229-6309

City of North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation - 633-1600

City of Henderson Parks and Recreation - 565-2334

Boulder City Parks and Recreation - 239-9286 

YMCA of Southern Nevada - 877-9622 or 240-9622 


For more information, please contact the Southern Nevada Chapter at (702) 791-3311.