Red Cross "Lifeguard Standards"

[Dory's Twin]

Any one out there know what the specific Red Cross Standards are for lifeguarding at a small member-owned pool (300 families)?

My son was fired as a guard for "not meeting the RC Standards" in that he failed his 500 yard swim. We can only find that he needs to be able to finish it. The pool set the time as 12 minutes. He swam in in 12:12.

tia

 

[debster812]

Wayyyyyy back in the dark ages, I worked for the State of Massachusetts as a lifeguard and a swim instructor.

I remember our test was Performing specific lifesaving techniques with a partner. Treading water for a set amount of time, and swimming 500 yards in 10 minutes or less.

And, if it's a small, private swim club, I would imagine they can set whatever standards over and above that they want. If they said 12 minutes, then 12 minutes it is.

Sorry for your son. Is there anyway he could apply for a re-test. 12 seconds over a 500 yard swim wouldn't be that big of an obstacle to get over.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I don't remember there being a time-based test (then again, I was YMCA-certified as a lifeguard, not Red Cross). Like Deb, that was a loooooooong time ago, so things might have changed. But everywhere I worked, being certified was enough -- you didn't have to prove anything further in order to stay employed.

 

[Tiggeroo]

My son is a beach life guard. They have minimum standards for the swim, I'll ask him what they are. However competition for the spots is so fierce people clearly are faster then the minimum. I do know the minimum for the mile run is 6 minutes which, again everybody is faster then.
You have to understand there are lives at stake. They can't spare feelings. I would assume there is a reason they decided his times were low. Approach the management and find out what their standards are and have him work on improving to this point. Find out if they will be willing to reinstate him at that point. Did they give him any warning that this would happen or that a test would be given?
Once my son renewed his post he no longer has to compete for the spot, merely recertify at the minimum times for running, swimming and rowing.

 

[mudnuri]

American Red Cross standards for the 500 yard swim is NOT a timed swim. The 500 yards is a pre-req for taking the LGT class. It is done at the beginning of the class, you must swim the 500 yards without stopping or touching bottom.

I am a instructor for lifeguards for our local ARC chapter...

Not sure how he was fired as a guard....If he was ALREADY a guard, he doesnt have to meet the 500yards. If they have a specific to their pool "you must swim 500 yards in 12 minutes to be employeed" that's different. However, it is NOT an ARC standard that is timed.

FYI, its based on stamina...thats the point for the swim!

Brandy

 

[momrek06]

Wayyyyyy back in the dark ages, I worked for the State of Massachusetts as a lifeguard and a swim instructor.

I remember our test was Performing specific lifesaving techniques with a partner. Treading water for a set amount of time, and swimming 500 yards in 10 minutes or less.

And, if it's a small, private swim club, I would imagine they can set whatever standards over and above that they want. If they said 12 minutes, then 12 minutes it is.

Sorry for your son. Is there anyway he could apply for a re-test. 12 seconds over a 500 yard swim wouldn't be that big of an obstacle to get over.

My son as well was a RED CROSS Lifeguard at a Public Beach. We are from MA as well. The instructions and certification were grueling. My son studied most of Jan-Mar for the examination. He had huge textbooks that I would quiz him as well when he was not in class. (I kept thinking if he does not pass, well there goes his big idea for a summer job)!!! Well thankfully he passed and spent summers from 1999-2003 working as a lifeguard. I recall the pay was pretty good, better than minimum as well. $9.00 per hour! He interviewed at both private and public pools and beaches and they all leaned in the direction of the RED CROSS certification program for lifeguards. I did not know there were others until my DS even looked into this program.

Now, OP, 12 seconds...like this poster has said...couldn't your DS just try again. I am a tad bit confused as he was HIRED and then FIRED. WHY? If he got the job initially, why is he NOW being fired...as it is already the middle of July.

I know when my son was a lifeguard he was MADE to swim laps every morning prior to the Beach opening up just to stay in shape BUT he was never timed after he was hired. He was HIRED and that was IT! Had to show all his certifications and purchase a RED suit with the lifeguard siggy on it!!!

 

[arminnie]

Wayyyyyy back in the dark ages.....

I'm so old that we had to pass a swim test to graduate from college! It was quite common at women's colleges years ago.

I'm not sure why the men didn't have to do this. We had to do an endurance swim for a certain number of minutes (10 or 15), tread water (no arms), and show proficiency in four different swim strokes. I thought I was a great swimmer until I took this class.

I am legally blind w/o my glasses so I never saw the instructor tell me I could stop during the endurance swim and just kept going and going and going. I thought I was going to fail, as I was getting so tired.

 

[monsterkitty]

The pool can set it's own standard for hiring and retaining guards. If he was able to do the 500 in 12 minutes when he was hired, then it is up to him to keep up his abilities.

 

[momrek06]

The pool can set it's own standard for hiring and retaining guards. If he was able to do the 500 in 12 minutes when he was hired, then it is up to him to keep up his abilities.

I am just confused as to why they are testing him again now in the middle of July.... !

UNLESS the pool club told him they would be testing them monthly or weekly and each lifeguard has to meet the requirements or you are fired....

But then again, that would be stressful but I guess it would keep the Guard in shape doing laps after their shifts etc etc

And now he is out of work Doesn't seem fair

Do they have an OVER ABUNDANCE of Guards

 

[monsterkitty]

I am just confused as to why they are testing him again now in the middle of July.... !

UNLESS the pool club told him they would be testing them monthly or weekly and each lifeguard has to meet the requirements or you are fired....

But then again, that would be stressful but I guess it would keep the Guard in shape doing laps after their shifts etc etc

And now he is out of work Doesn't seem fair

Do they have an OVER ABUNDANCE of Guards

At the water park I was safety supervisor, guards were fired for not keeping up their skills or their endurance. Each level of guards had specific requirements for their swims: 200 yds under 4 minutes, 5 hundred yards in under 10 minutes, and they had to tread water with a 10 lb brick for 2 minutes. They were told when we hired them they had to keep up their skills or they would be taken off the schedule until they could pass the test. They were tested once a month.

Guards were required to swim 500 yards each day they were scheduled.

We did not have an over abundance of guards. However, public and the guards personal safety is the main concern at any pool or water park. Would you want a guard watching over your family if the guard was not able to pass the fitness portion of the job requirements?

 

[mickeysgal]

Any one out there know what the specific Red Cross Standards are for lifeguarding at a small member-owned pool (300 families)?

My son was fired as a guard for "not meeting the RC Standards" in that he failed his 500 yard swim. We can only find that he needs to be able to finish it. The pool set the time as 12 minutes. He swam in in 12:12.

tia

My son is a Red Cross certified life guard and he did have to pass a 500 yard swim endurance test (one of many). I can't remember him saying whether or not there is an upper boundary of time for this swim, although if you think about it, there really should be. He also is a competitive swimmer and swims this particular event well under the 6 minute mark, so it wasn't an issue at the time. Perhaps this pool is requiring their guards to be certified Red Cross guards. I know that if a guard fails any portion of the test, they can retake the test, although I don't know if there is any cost involved or how much time has to elapse between the attempts at certification. (I know my son had to pay to take the class, so I don't know if there would be any additional cost to retake the test one time). Good luck.

 

[my3kids]

I'm so old that we had to pass a swim test to graduate from college! It was quite common at women's colleges years ago.

There a story recently on the Ap that some colleges still had the swim test as a requirement for graduation.

 

[Dory's Twin]

Thank you for all of your replies...

We belong to a small community family-owned pool owned...we have a board of directors (I am a past president...3 year stint) anyway...my DS15 was hired on as a guard...no pre-test, no signing of documents stating XYZ Just need Certification(as I said, small pool)...last month the President (an ex-military guy) decides to institute new policies.

My son passed his Red Cross Cert. with rave reviews from the instructor....he is strong, big and fit (15, 6'2", 170lbs played Varsity soccer his Freshman year, etc) He is, however, not from a swim team background. He swam the 500 to get certified, no time necessary...but missed the Presidents mark by 12 secs. and recieved a letter stating that he was fired due to not "maintaining Red Cross Lifeguard Standards"

I have call ARC and the Colorado Chapter of RC and they both tell me that after they get certified that is the standard, if they can do all that they are ARC certified...

The pool is 25 yrds, with 6 lanes....and a diving well.....not beach or lake rescue....not possible to have to swim 500 yrds for a rescue....

we approached the President yesterday and he had no answers...seriously....called the hired mamager and he said that he was told not to talk to us....WE ARE MEMBERS!!!!

I think the President has something to prove?! It is all very weird....one of the Asst Manager/Sr. lifeguard can't believe he was fired...

Also found out that the Pool is $5000 in the Red already....and that the President has had many run-ins with other members, been disciplined by the Swim League in our area for inappropriate behavior... (physically menaced a timer)


But what is the recourse? I am so sad that my son has to go thur this!

 

[Megster]

I'm a lifeguard now and in the three times I've taken the test (to recert) I've never been timed; as another poster said, its only to make sure you can do it not how fast you can do it.

 

[Swimnoid]

Thank you for all of your replies...

We belong to a small community family-owned pool owned...we have a board of directors (I am a past president...3 year stint) anyway...my DS15 was hired on as a guard...no pre-test, no signing of documents stating XYZ Just need Certification(as I said, small pool)...last month the President (an ex-military guy) decides to institute new policies.

My son passed his Red Cross Cert. with rave reviews from the instructor....he is strong, big and fit (15, 6'2", 170lbs played Varsity soccer his Freshman year, etc) He is, however, not from a swim team background. He swam the 500 to get certified, no time necessary...but missed the Presidents mark by 12 secs. and recieved a letter stating that he was fired due to not "maintaining Red Cross Lifeguard Standards"

I have call ARC and the Colorado Chapter of RC and they both tell me that after they get certified that is the standard, if they can do all that they are ARC certified...

The pool is 25 yrds, with 6 lanes....and a diving well.....not beach or lake rescue....not possible to have to swim 500 yrds for a rescue....

we approached the President yesterday and he had no answers...seriously....called the hired mamager and he said that he was told not to talk to us....WE ARE MEMBERS!!!!

I think the President has something to prove?! It is all very weird....one of the Asst Manager/Sr. lifeguard can't believe he was fired...

Also found out that the Pool is $5000 in the Red already....and that the President has had many run-ins with other members, been disciplined by the Swim League in our area for inappropriate behavior... (physically menaced a timer)


But what is the recourse? I am so sad that my son has to go thur this!

Something sounds really fishy (no pun intended). They can have any standards they want but it doesnt look like they were conveyed during the hiring process. And that bit about not talking to you?????? Keep digging. Got any friends that are lawyers? Just dropping the old line, "well, my lawyer says..." can get a lot of action sometimes.