Parks & Recreation

Red Cross Certification

All of the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's swimming classes are conducted by Water Safety Instructors who are certified by the American Red Cross. The Department's lifeguards are also certified by the American Red Cross. The Department provides Red Cross Lifeguard Training for boys and girls, ages fifteen and up, in a regulation four-week course, usually taught in the early spring and summer. Eligible candidates must complete rigorous requirements, such as swimming 500 continuous yards, submerging to a depth of at least 10 feet, returning a 10-pound weight from the pool floor and other tasks. Call 305-223-7077 for registration information.

All lifeguard trainees learn first aid, CPR and emergency rescue techniques and are issued a certificate authorized by the American Red Cross. The minimum age for an entry lifeguard position is 17 year of age, and all lifeguards must be recertified once every three years.