Proud Red Cross Training Site

We are proud to provide American Red Cross classes. 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:

The requirement is that you must be 15 years of age on or before the last session of the class.

Prerequisites:

Complete a Swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest – Jump into the water and submerge, resurface, then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not allowed; swim goggles are allowed during this portion only! Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs. Swim 50 yards using front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both.

Starting in the water, 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 the pool without using a ladder or steps 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! Swim goggles are not allowed during this portion.

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 about giving CPR, using an AED, and administering Emergency First Aid. This class is perfect for people who want to be better prepared in the event of an emergency. Learn more about our CPR/AED/First Aid class offerings here.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, we are able to provide the highest quality CPR/AED and First Aid classes to our community.

The Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois offers corporate pricing for CPR/AED/First Aid. Call the YMCA to learn more!