American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley to Offer Additional Lifeguard Training Class
News Release: July 22, 2009
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771

If you thought you missed your chance to take a lifeguard training course this summer, the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley is giving you another opportunity. The Red Cross will hold a class at the Palmerton pool August 10-14 and August 17-21 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The course fee is $220.

Participants must attend each scheduled session in order to qualify for lifeguard certification. In addition, participants must be 15-years-old before the last day of class. On the first day, participants will be given a swimming skills pre-test and must pass in order to continue the course.

Participants in the all-inclusive training course will learn the skills needed to respond to an aquatic emergency at a swimming pool facility. Both the course content and hands-on activities will prepare participants to recognize and quickly respond to emergencies such as injury or drowning.

During the ten-day training course, participants will learn how to: identify behaviors of a swimmer, distressed swimmer, and an active or passive drowning victim, understand the components of an emergency action plan and how to activate it, understand the general procedures for an emergency occurring in the water or on land, perform equipment-based rescues, provide first aid and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, and recognize and care for possible head, neck or back injuries.

Register today. Space is limited. To secure a place in the class, please register at least seven days prior to the start date of the class. You can register by phone at 610-865-4400, ext. 247; online at www.redcrosslv.org; or in person at the Red Cross office, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration is payable by check to "American Red Cross" or credit card (MasterCard, VISA or American Express).

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves nearly 690,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 24,000 greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.