Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatics Division is offering training sessions to those seeking lifeguard certification.
Lifeguard Training is a course which provides entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies. This course includes certifications in lifeguard training, waterpark lifeguard training, first aid, AED and CPR for the professional rescuer. This training class runs 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, March 10-13, at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Drive. Participants must attend all sessions for certification. Those who are hired by the department will take the course for free. Cost is $225.
Enrollment closes two-weeks prior to the start date of the class.
Additional sessions will take place 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, March 28-April 25 and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, April 19-May 10.
There are a number of prerequisites for the class, including: being a minimum age of 15 years-old by the last day of the course; passing a pre-course screening of being able to continuously swim 300 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke and a combination of the two; treading water for two minutes using only legs; and swimming 20 yards to retrieve a 10-pound brick, surfacing and swimming to the starting point with the brick within a certain time limit.
Registration can be done online at http://lprd.org/activity?n=212120 or at any Parks and Recreation facility, including: Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane; the Community Building, 115 West 11th St.; East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 East 15th St.; Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 West 27th St.; Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center; Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St. or the Administrative Office in South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St.
To apply for a lifeguard or any Parks and Recreation open part-time position, please visit: http://www.lawrenceks.org/jobs. Those without lifeguard training certification are still encouraged to apply.
For more information, please contact Lori Madaus, aquatics supervisor, lmadaus@lawrenceks.org, (785) 832-7946.