Trainings and Certifications

The American Red Cross CPR, First Aid and AED course is offered throughout the year at the Aquatic Center. This is a blended learning style course with a mandatory online portion which is required to be completed ahead of the in-person class. Upon successful completion of our course, you will earn a certification that satisfies OSHA-mandated job requirements, workplace or other regulatory requirements, and is valid for 2 years. From personalized learning to interactive scenarios to peer-to-peer learning and hands-on skill practice, our course is taught by experts and ensures you can provide life-saving care when it's needed most.

Classes Upon Request

CPR/AED and First Aid for the Community Member

Would you like to feel confident that you could help a neighbor or family member in an emergency? If so, one of the first and most essential steps is becoming certified in basic CPR First Aid and learning to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). We can help with both blended and traditional style courses.

Through a blended learning style course, you will learn skills to gain employment as a lifeguard in a waterpark or pool setting. You must be at least 15 years old and pass a swimming skills assessment. Skill assessments will be given before the first day of the in-person class. To set up a skill assessment please email Jenetter@biparks.org.

Prerequisites

• Must be 15 years or older
• Pass a skills assessment which includes:

• Untimed Swim:
  • Jump into the deep water
  • Submerge, surface and swim 150 yards (6 lengths)
  • Then stop and tread water (only using legs) in the deep end for 2 minutes
  • Then swim 50 yards (2 lengths).
  • All this must be done continuously without touching the wall or floor.
  • For the swim you must do a combination of front crawl and breaststroke. You may not swim with your head up but must take breaths using rhythmic breathing
• Timed Swim:
  • In 1 minute, 40 sec: Swim 20 yards (almost one length)
  • Then surface dive to the bottom and retrieve a 10-pound brick
  • Surface, and swim backward to the starting point with both hands on the brick and head out of the water.
  • Put the brick on the side of the pool and exit the pool without using steps or a ladder

Once you have successfully completed the Skill Assessment we will sign you up for the online learning position of the class. This must be completed before the first in person class.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I miss a class?

Unfortunately, to become certified, you must attend all class sessions. We practice skills many times, but they build upon each other.

How long is my certification good for?

Your certification is good for 2 years.

What certifications am I getting when I sign up for the Lifeguard Class?

You will be trained as a lifeguard and become first aid, CPR, and AED certified.

Due to our facility’s needs, we also added waterpark training so that you will become certified in the waterpark.

How do I access the online training?

You will complete the above prerequisite skills on the first night of class. Once you pass the prerequisites, we will sign you up for the online training. Your instructor will show you directions for logging in from home.

Program Contact

Jenette Reneau
Aquatic Program Administrator
Office: 206.842.2302 #303
jenetter@biparks.org

Through a blended learning style class, you will learn skills to gain the basic water safety skills required of a swim coach for USA Swimming. Coaches must finish the online portion before the skill session with our certified American Red Cross Instructor. Online course fee with USA Swimming not included

• Min 4/Max 10

No classes are being offered now; please check for updates.

The Water Safety Instructor (WSI) course is designed to prepare instructor candidates to teach various swimming and water safety programs offered by the American Red Cross. This includes courses such as Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim, and Adult Swim programs.

Once Certified, instructors are eligible to teach the following courses:

• Water Safety Today

• Basic Water Rescue

• Personal Water Safety

• Safety Training for Swim Coaches

• Water Safety Instructor candidates must be 16 years old on or before the last day of the course.
• Candidates must be able to swim at a Learn-to-Swim level 4 skill level.

No classes are being offered now; please check for updates.