Proud Red Cross Training Site

We are proud to provide American Red Cross classes. All of our classes are hosted here at the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois and are open to the public. You can sign up online or stop by the Welcome Center!

Lifeguarding:

Requirements are that you must be 15 years of age on or before the last session of the class. Prerequisites: Swim 300 yards continuously, using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not allowed.<br>Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to a depth of 7 – 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards on your back to the starting point, place the object on deck and get out of pool within 1 min. 40 sec. When returning to the starting point, one must hold the 10-pound object with both hands and must keep their face above the water. Must attend all sessions unless prior approved by the instructor!

We offer a prerequisite check prior to each class. You can see our current offerings or register here. The lifeguard class will take place in our pool and classroom.

CPR/AED/First Aid:

We offer CPR/AED/First Aid for the public. This blended learning course allows you to do half of the learning on the computer at your own pace, followed by two hours of in-person time. Upon completing this course, you will feel confident in when and how to give CPR, use an AED, and administer Emergency First Aid. This class is perfect for people that are wanting to be better prepared in the event of an emergency. You can learn more about our CPR/AED/First Aid class offerings here.

Babysitting:

• Our in-person babysitter classes give you access to best-in-class instructors who will share the latest information on child care, offer tips, and can answer all of your questions so that you’re ready to start your own babysitting business. With lecture and class activities, these courses are engaging, informative and fun.

What You’ll Learn

Although every situation is unique, there are some universal skills and techniques that every babysitter should have. Our courses were designed with this principle in mind and can help you deliver the care that families need. Just a few of the things our babysitting classes cover include:

• Basic Care for Infants and Children
• Basic First Aid
• Child Behavior
• Age-Appropriate Activities
• Emergency Protocols

You can call the YMCA or stop by the Welcome Center to learn more and express interest.

Epi-Pen Administration:

This course will teach you the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to care for a person with a severe allergic reaction, including administering epinephrine using an auto-injector device. The course includes videos, activities reinforcing critical information, and a learning assessment.

You can call the YMCA or stop by the Welcome Center to learn more and express interest.