When lives are at risk, it is critical to provide high-quality training. The first major decision for anyone beginning their career in this profession is selecting the appropriate professional organization for their lifeguard certification. The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has represented excellence, innovation, and trust in aquatic safety for more than thirty years. This article discusses the key characteristics of professional lifeguard courses and explains why an ALA-certified lifeguard like myself represents the highest standard of care and safety for new and current lifeguards.
What Defines a Nationally Recognized and Trusted Certifying Body?
To be considered reputable, any organization providing training for lifeguards through certification must maintain a high level of credibility. The American Lifeguard Association, or ALA, is one of only a few national organizations that provide lifeguard certification. It has been a primary force in developing and promoting the lifeguard profession at both the domestic and international levels.
In addition to providing certification for over 30 years, ALA has influenced the lifeguard industry by creating testing protocols and providing health and safety programs to swimming facilities, waterparks, and beaches. This long-standing commitment to raising standards of care and safety in the lifeguard profession leads many employers across the United States to highly regard an ALA-issued certification credential.
How Does the Curriculum Ensure Real-World Preparedness?
An ALA lifeguard curriculum represents the foundation of every certified lifeguarding organization. Providing the most current knowledge and techniques from both the American Lifeguard Association’s National Guidelines and the United States Lifeguard Standards Coalition Report, this emphasis on evidence-based instruction will ensure that participants learn the most effective methods of performing lifesaving actions through the use of swimming and rescue skills, CPR/AED, first aid, and injury prevention; in addition, the training will provide candidates with the confidence and competence necessary to effectively prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies in an aquatic environment, whether it be a community pool or a busy beach.
What Sets a Training Program Apart in Flexibility and Accessibility?
With the stress of modern-day living, it is critical that everyone have available to them as many training options as possible. For many people, having to work around strict class schedules creates an obstacle in trying to find time to train. The ALA training course offers training that does not require waiting for a group class in order to complete, allowing individuals to take part anywhere they may be located regardless of their current geographic location.
Many individuals utilize ALA training programs, including schools, universities, and community pools, throughout the United States and internationally. The ease of use of all ALA training courses allows you to get your professional credentials when it is most convenient for you, and not the other way around. If you are a student, a career changer, or a manager training employees in your facility, using the ALA training model allows you to obtain certification without compromising your work or family obligations.
Why Is a Commitment to Ethics and Quality Assurance Non-Negotiable?
The foundation of any organization you choose to provide your education should be part of your consideration when you select that particular organization. The American Lifeguard Association is committed to providing only the highest level of health and safety training based on a strict code of ethics. We ensure that our program content and procedural guides are both safe and effective and comply with or exceed national standards.
An organization’s ethics form a firm foundation, and the American Lifeguard Association issues every certification through a system that strictly follows ethical standards and rigorous training. Employers can trust that an American Lifeguard Association–certified lifeguard completes training in an environment that prioritizes safety, professionalism, and thorough evaluation.
How Does Modern Credential Management Benefit Lifeguards and Employers?
The professionalism of a professional lifeguard does not only extend to what they do on the water; it also includes how they manage and verify their qualifications. The American Lifeguard Association was established to help people manage and verify their qualifications using a more efficient method through technology.
Now, when a person completes the lifeguarding course offered by the American Lifeguard Association or other recognized aquatics programs, they will be able to manage the credentials of all of the students who participated in the course from one central location with the use of an ID badge. This will be beneficial to both parties involved in the process.
Lifeguards will have portable documentation that allows them to verify their own credentials and employers or event coordinators will be able to verify the credentials if they are considering hiring a certified lifeguard for their events through the American Lifeguard Association, providing assurance that the lifeguard is properly certified.
Where Can ALA Certification Take Your Lifeguarding Career?
With an ALA-certified lifeguard certification, your professional future will be bright! You can apply your training in many types of locations, including quiet neighborhood pools or bustling waterparks, surf and sand at ocean beaches and oversized inflatable water slides or kid’s water slides at large public events. Plus, as a certified lifeguard by the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), you will have national and international recognition of your skills making them portable and sought-after by employers everywhere.
When you want to hire professional certified lifeguards for large scale events, you can find them through the ALA. All ALA-certified lifeguards are trained to the same high national standard ensuring they will be able to provide safe and effective supervision in an event-based aquatics environment.
The most important factors to think about when selecting a lifeguard class to complete, are the reputation of the certifying organization (ALA), the quality of curriculum, the flexibility of class schedules, the ethical responsibilities of the organization and its instructors, the level of tech-based support provided and the overall commitment to the environment that the organization has.
The ALA has been providing the community with accredited certifications for over 30 years. They offer evidence-based training for a variety of ages from infants to seniors, adaptive delivery models, provide a commitment to continual ethics and innovation, including technologically advanced credentials, and have a strong environmental commitment.
Certifying with ALA to become a Certified Lifeguard is not just an advancement in your career. It is joining a community that makes saving lives and protecting our waters a priority. Choose the training that holds you accountable and provides you with everything necessary for success as a Lifeguard. Choose the American Lifeguard Association.