Lifeguards Wanted

The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums is seeking lifeguards to work at its pools in the summer of 2008. Hours are flexible and jobs are available at parks in East Meadow, Hicksville, North Woodmere, Roslyn-North Hills and Wantagh. For information, call 572-0508 or visit: Human Resources, Administrative Building, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY 11554. All first-time lifeguards must have completed the Nassau County Lifeguard and CPR for the Professional Rescuer certifications.

Lifeguard Training

Guard Start (ages 11-14 years) — Designed to guide youth to the American Red Cross Lifeguarding program by building a foundation of knowledge, proper attitudes and skills for future lifeguards. The foundation of the class consists of five categories: prevention, fitness, response, leadership and professionalism. Class is offered on Tuesdays at 7 pm and takes place over a 10-week period during each swim lesson session (space is limited).

Lifeguard Certification Classes

Lifeguard certification classes will be held at the Nassau County Aquatic Center. You must be at least 16 years old by the last date of the class and pass a pretest to qualify for a class. The pretest usually takes place on the first day of the class. For more information or to enroll in a class (space is limited), call 572-0508.

UPCOMING LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION CLASSES:

• The cost of each class is $100 (check made out to "Treasurer of Nassau County") and an additional $78.90 for books (check made out to "American Red Cross"). A Leisure Pass is also required. Checks will be accepted after attendees pass the pre-test.

• A $25 non-refundable registration fee is required for all Lifeguard Certification classes. This registration fee will be applied toward the balance of the course, once the applicant has successfully passed the pre-test portion of the course.

-- New class starting Tuesday, Nov 18, and ending Feb. 3; held every Tuesday from 6 - 10 pm.

-- Pre-test takes place on Friday, Nov. 14, at 6 pm. You must be registered to take the pre-test (see information on pre-test below).

-- We have begun accepting registrations; spots are limited and are first-come, first-serve (registration must be done in person.

-- Leisure Pass is required.

 

Pretest requirements (updated 2/7/07):

- Swim 300 yards continuously using these strokes in the following order: 100 yards front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing propellant kick; 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence; and 100 yards of either front crawl using rhythmic breathing or breaststroke. These 100 yards may be a mixture of front crawl and breaststroke. (Note: There is no time requirement for this skill. The participant must show only that he or she can swim 300 yards using the above strokes without stopping.)

- Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke; surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet of water, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 seconds. The time is complete once the participant has exited the water and is standing up on the pool deck.