Aquatics Center Classes
Learn to Swim
The learn to swim program at the Centennial Sportsplex is now administered and taught by the Nashville Aquatic Club's "Swim America Program". The program is offered to children and adults ages 3 and up. For more information please visit the Swim America web site or you may contact Margaret Akers, program director at 615 -516-7711.
Water Safety Classes
- 2012 Class Schedule
- Lifeguard Training
- CPR Professional Rescuer Re-certification Challenge
- Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
- Lifeguard Instructor (LGI)
- Guard Start
Lifeguard Training
About
You must be 15 years old and proficient in the front crawl (freestyle), sidestroke, and breaststroke. Lifeguard training is a 25.5 -hour course, which includes CPR for the Professional Rescuer (CPR/PR) and AED. In this course, you will learn about the duties and responsibilities of a lifeguard and how to carry them out in a professional manner. You will also learn a number of lifeguarding skills, such as surveillance techniques, how to use rescue equipment and how to manage a suspected spinal injury victim. These practices require strenuous activity. If you have a medical condition or disability that might prevent you from taking part in the practice sessions or if you have any questions at all about your ability to participate fully in the Lifeguard Training course, you should discuss it with the appropriate person at your local American Red Cross chapter or unit before you start the course. There will also be a pre-course session, in which you will be required to pass a skills test.
Skills You Will Perform
- Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing
- Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs
- Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds
- Starting in the water, swim 20 yards
- Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object
- Surface and swim 20 yards on back with both hands holding object
- Exit the water without using a ladder or steps
Fees
- Resident course fee: $177.00
- Non-resident course fee: 192.00
- Lifeguard participant manual: purchase or download for free at www.redcross.org
- Pocket Mask can be purchased at www.redcross.org
Lifeguard and CPR-PR Challenge Course
There will not be any challenges held this spring due to the Red Cross update of the Lifeguarding and CPR/PR courses
Fees
- Resident course fee: $60.00
- Non-resident course fee: $75.00
Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
About-The American Red Cross WSI course is taught in 36-40 hours.
You must be 16 years old and pass a pre-requisite skills test
and written test.
Pre-requisite skills test: You must be: proficient
in six basic strokes (breastroke, sidestroke, elementary
backstroke, front crawl, backstroke, and butterfly); able
to perform a long shallow dive into a minimum of 9 feet
of water, perform a surface dive retrieve a 10-pound brick
in 6 to 9 feet of water, and bring it to the surface; able
to perform a wading assist with equipment and bring the
victim safely to the side of the pool; able to enter shallow
water and approach a face-down victim with a suspected
spinal injury using the head splint to establish the airway
and maintain in-line stabilization; able to perform a reaching
and throwing assist from land bringing the victim back
to land.
Pre-requisite written test: You must possess knowledge
of information contained in ARC Community Water Safety
text.
The prerequisite course for Water Safety Instructor is Fundamentals of Instructor Training (F.I.T.). Call the American Red Cross [(615) 250-4300] to enroll. You must obtain F.I.T. Certificate before you start W.S.I.
Fees
- Resident course fee: $177.00
- Non-resident course fee: $192.00
- Instructor Manual: $25 purchase or download for free at www.redcross.org
- Swimming and Diving Handbook: $21.00 purchase or download for free at www.redcross.org
Lifeguard Instructor (LGI)
About
The American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor course is taught in 27 hours. The first six hours are pre-course testing. Please bring these documents to the Pre-course Session:
- Proof that you are at least 17 years old (driver's license or birth certificate)
- An American Red Cross Fundamentals of Instructor Training certificate issued in the last 12 months or current Health and Safety instructor authorization.
To be an effective Lifeguard Instructor you must become completely familiar with the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training participant's manual and other course materials and videos. You will be given practice teaching assignments, which will give you experience in presenting information to course participants, conducting classes, and evaluating skills.
The Pre-course Session includes a written exam and four skills scenarios based on the Lifeguard Training course knowledge and skills. The pre-course testing consists of the following:
Swim 500 yards continuously, using these strokes in the following order:
- 200 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick. Rhythmic breathing can be performed either by breathing to the side or to the front.
- 100 yards of breastroke
- 200 yards of either front crawl using rhythmic breathing or breastroke. These 200 yards may be a mixture of front crawl and breastroke.
Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breastroke, surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point. When returning to the starting point, the candidate must hold the 10-pound object with both hands and must keep his or her face above the water.
Perform rescue, CPR, and first aid skills. Complete the 3 Lifeguard Training course final skill scenarios.
Take a pre-course written examination.
Lifeguard Training and CPR for the Professional Rescuer course completion certificates will be awarded to instructor candidates who score at least 80 percent on each exam and who successfully perform each scenario.
Fees
- Resident course fee: Under consideration
- Non-resident course fee: Under consideration
- Instructor Manual: $25 (download for free at www.redcross.org)
- Swimming and Diving Handbook: $21.00 (download for free at www.redcross.org)
For more information Contact: Matt Oberbreckling at matt.oberbreckling@nashville.gov
