Open the door to employment opportunities
Take up a YMCA Aquatic Certification
Certification as a lifeguard or swimming instructor can lead to employment and volunteer opportunities at the YMCA and elsewhere. You’ll also develop leadership skills that can have a profound impact on your future success.
Please note:
Prerequisites: Lifesaving Society recognizes First Aid certificates issued by any WSIB compliant organizations. Compliant organizations can be confirmed by scanning the QR code or visit this link: https://www.wsib.ca/en/previously-approved-first-aid-training-providers
A physical standards exam is scheduled for the last day of Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, NL, LSS Swim and Lifesaving Instructor, Basic First Aid and Intermediate First Aid courses. Exam dates cannot be re-scheduled. Anyone who fails to attend the exam date must re-take the full course.
Swimming, Swim Instructor, and Lifeguard Certifications
Swim Patrol: Rookie, Ranger, or Star
Focuses on stroke improvement and endurance, and develops First Aid skills and rescues to prepare participants for the Lifesaving Society course.
Pre-requisite: Participants must be able to swim 25m and tread water in deep end.
Bronze Star
Prepares candidates for the Bronze Medallion program. Candidates will learn rescue skills, resuscitation, and self-rescue techniques, while improving stroke technique and endurance.
Pre-requisite: Participants must at least hold the Ranger award in Swim Patrol
Bronze Medallion + Basic First Aid and CPR ‘C’
In the Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Medallion course we emphasize the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water-rescue education: judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries as well as defence methods and releases, preparing themselves for challenging rescues involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types.
The Basic First Aid course covers the general knowledge of First Aid principles and the emergency treatment of injuries. Skills include victim assessment, rescue breathing, CPR, choking, and what to do for external bleeding, and heart attack.
Prerequisite: Participants must be at least 13 years old or must have completed Bronze Star.
Bronze Medallion is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA.
Requirements: 100% attendance is required by the Lifesaving Society. A physical standards exam is scheduled for the last day of the course. Exam dates cannot be re-scheduled. Anyone who fails to attend exam date must re-do the FULL course.
Bronze Cross + Intermediate First Aid and CPR ‘C’
Bronze Cross course challenges Lifesavers with more advanced training and introduces safe supervision in aquatic facilities, the principles of teamwork, procedures and use of special equipment. 100% attendance is required by lifesaving society.
Intermediate First Aid is a continuation of the Basic First Aid course with a more detailed understanding of First Aid including: legal implications of First Aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies
Pre-requisite: Participants must hold Bronze Medallion + Basic First Aid and CPR ‘C’.
Bronze Cross is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA. It is a prerequisite for all LS advanced training programs, including National Lifeguard and Instructor certifications (YMCA, Lifesaving Society and Red Cross).
Requirements: 100% attendance is required by the Lifesaving Society. A physical standards exam is scheduled for the last day of the course. Exam dates cannot be re-scheduled. Anyone who fails to attend exam date must re-do the FULL course.
National Lifeguard
Learn how to fulfill your role as a professional facilitator of safe, enjoyable aquatics for everyone! The National Lifeguard (NL) course emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and communication in the prevention of accidents and in first aid treatment of medical emergencies.
Pre-requisite: Participants must be at least 15 years old by the date of exam and hold Bronze Cross + Intermediate First Aid and CPR ‘C’.
National Lifeguard is a Lifesaving Society (LS) certification offered through the YMCA. National Lifeguard is the only nationally recognized lifeguard certification in Canada.
Requirements: 100% attendance is required by the Lifesaving Society. A physical standards exam is scheduled for the last day of the course. Exam dates cannot be re-scheduled. Anyone who fails to attend exam date must re-do the FULL course.
LSS Swim Instructor and Lifesaving Instructor
This course contains two certifications: Swim Instructor and Lifesaving Instructor/Basic First Aid Instructor certifications.
The Swim Instructor portion prepares the instructor to teach and evaluate the swimming strokes and relations skills found in the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program.
The Lifesaving Instructor portion prepare individuals to organize, plan, teach and evaluate lifesaving and First Aid skills and resuscitation techniques in the Lifesaving Society’s Lifesaving and First Aid awards. 100% attendance is required by the Lifesaving Society.
Pre-requisite: Participants must be at least 15 years old by the date of exam and hold Bronze Cross or NL certification.
Requirements: 100% attendance is required by the Lifesaving Society. A physical standards exam is scheduled for the last day of the course. Exam dates cannot be re-scheduled. Anyone who fails to attend exam date must re-do the FULL course.
First Aid Certifications
Basic First Aid and CPR ‘C’
Basic First Aid provides awareness, knowledge, and skills related to first aid principles and the emergency treatment of injuries. Topics include workplace safety, self-protection, scene and primary assessment, CPR, breathing emergencies such as choking, and what to do for external bleeding, heart attack/angina, stroke, and using an AED. Includes CPR-C with AED certification for adult, child and infant. It is recognized by Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.
Intermediate First Aid and CPR ‘C’
Intermediate First Aid includes all aspects of Basic First Aid and provides additional comprehensive first aid training. Candidates demonstrate first aid care for anaphylaxis, shock, stroke, amputations, facial injuries, burn injuries, fractures and dislocations, neck or spinal column injuries, seizures, diabetic emergencies, and environmental injury and illness. Includes CPR-C with AED certification for adult, child and infant. It is recognized by Ontario’s Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.
Re-certification takes place on the last day.
Course Materials
The following materials are required purchases for respective courses:
- LSS Instructor Pack (Swim Instructor)
- Canadian Lifesaving Manual (Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross)
- Alert – Lifeguarding in Action (National Lifeguard)
- Canadian First Aid Manual (Basic/Intermediate First Aid)
- Pocket mask (All courses)
Course Cancellation
A minimum number of registrations is required to run the course. Course cancellation calls will be made to registered participants no later than 1 week prior to the start date if the course will be cancelled.
Contact
If you have any questions, please reach out to Oliver Gane