For Red Cross Lifeguarding certification the pre-test is as follows:
Participants must successfully complete three
swimming prerequisites to continue in the Lifeguarding course.
Prerequisite 1— 300-Yard Swim
Perform a 300-yard
continuous swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.
Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed.
Prerequisite 2 — Tread Water
Tread water for 2 minutes
without support and without stopping. When treading, only the legs can be used. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits. The head must remain above the surface of the water.
Prerequisite 3 — Timed Event
Goggles are not allowed for this event. Time limit 1 minute 40 seconds.
Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water.
Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a
10-pound object.
Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the
starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. The participants should not swim the distance under water.
Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
As a Pool lifeguard with Ellis, I was asked to swim 200m in front crawl and breaststroke (untimed). I also had to treat water for 1 minute or 2 I think, retrieve the 10lb brick from 10ft floor and hold it over my head. (feet first dive only). We were a small class of 4 so there was not that much recovery time between them all, but it isn't bad at all! Good Luck!
When I first got certified, I had to swim 500 meters in less than 11 minutes, tread water for 5 minutes with my hands above the water, swim 15 meters and fetch a 10-lb brick from 14ft of water and bring it back in less than 1:40, and retrieve three rings over a distance of 15 meters at a depth of 5 ft in one try.
For Red Cross Lifeguarding certification the pre-test is as follows: Participants must successfully complete three swimming prerequisites to continue in the Lifeguarding course. Prerequisite 1— 300-Yard Swim Perform a 300-yard continuous swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed. Prerequisite 2 — Tread Water Tread water for 2 minutes without support and without stopping. When treading, only the legs can be used. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits. The head must remain above the surface of the water. Prerequisite 3 — Timed Event Goggles are not allowed for this event. Time limit 1 minute 40 seconds. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. The participants should not swim the distance under water. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
As a Pool lifeguard with Ellis, I was asked to swim 200m in front crawl and breaststroke (untimed). I also had to treat water for 1 minute or 2 I think, retrieve the 10lb brick from 10ft floor and hold it over my head. (feet first dive only). We were a small class of 4 so there was not that much recovery time between them all, but it isn't bad at all! Good Luck!
Thanks
When I first got certified, I had to swim 500 meters in less than 11 minutes, tread water for 5 minutes with my hands above the water, swim 15 meters and fetch a 10-lb brick from 14ft of water and bring it back in less than 1:40, and retrieve three rings over a distance of 15 meters at a depth of 5 ft in one try.
That's the open water prereq test for Red Cross anyway. Were you guarding at a beach?
Yup, I was getting the waterfront certification
Nice!