Joplin Offering Junior Life Guard Class

Are your kids interested in lifeguarding, but aren’t quite old enough? They can still dip their toe in the world of becoming a pool-side hero at Joplin’s junior life guard class later this month. Your tweens will develop the skills they need to take the life guard test once they turn 16.

From June 24-28, kids ages 11-14 years old will learn lifesaving skills, such as water rescues, use of a rescue tube, and first aid, CPR, and AED training. They’ll also get to shadow a lifeguard to get a real sense of being on the job.

The course is taught by the Department’s American Red Cross Certified Lifeguarding Instructor.

Students must be able to swim 25 yards continuously of both breaststroke and front crawl (freestyle), tread water for 1 minute using arms and legs, float on their back for 30 seconds or swim 25 yards of backstroke and submerge and swim 10 feet underwater before taking the course.

The class will be held at Cunningham Aquatic Center for a cost of $100, which includes students receiving a junior lifeguard pack, whistle, visor, shirt, and tank top. The deadline to register is June 18.

For more information or to register, please call the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department at 417-625-4750 or visit www.joplinparks.org.