Westchester organizations offer lifeguard certification for local yout
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Memorial Day is around the corner, and it’s the unofficial kickoff to summer, but the shortage of lifeguards in Westchester County may be impacting some locations.
The Boys and Girls Club in Mount Kisco is helping kids get their certification ahead of a busy season.
“I trained over the winter break,” said Katie O’Donnell.
She's been taking swimming lessons and decided to get her lifeguard certification.
“I work here on Sundays, and i have been since I started,” she added.
The Red Cross and the Boys and Girls Club joined forces to tackle the lifeguard shortage. Currently, there is a course offered in Westchester County that is roughly 30 hours long. Participants need to pass an online portion before they take the pre-test.
“There’s a certain number of laps at the pool and certain other skills they have to pass,” said Robert Rischel, the assistant aquatics director.
Once that is done, the lectures begin, adding, “they learn CPR and AED skills, first aid skills, and the pool does cover injury management.”
There are about 10 people in each class, and the entire course can be completed within a few days, depending on how the facility or the instructor sets it up.
Participants need to be at least 15 years old and “be a strong swimmer; you don’t want to have a weak swimmer to help someone that’s drowning; you may have two victims.”
The facility will also assist those who aren’t strong swimmers in working on the skills they need to become successful at swimming. If you are interested in signing up to get your certification, visit bgcnw.com.