Be a certified lifeguard by the time summer rolls in by enrolling this spring in a new kinesiology course, KINE 1253 Lifeguard Training, at Laredo Community College.
The course will cover various aspects of lifeguarding, including injury prevention, patron surveillance, emergency preparation, rescue skills, CPR, first aid and more.
Kinesiology instructor Randy Gonzalez will teach the class, which is open to students who are at least 15 years of age and can pass a swimming agility test.
The students must swim 500 yards continuously, using 200 yards for front crawl, 100 for breaststroke, and 200 either front crawl or breaststroke. They also must swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to a depth of 8 to 11 feet, retrieve a 10-pound brick and swim back 20 yards.
Students who meet all the requirements and pass at least 80 percent of their written examination will become certified lifeguards, Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez has been an American Red Cross instructor in lifeguarding and water safety since 1975. He has been an instructor trainer since 1985. Gonzalez has presented classes in Mexico City, Florida, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, among other cities.
He added that the course also can benefit persons who want to learn the aspects of lifeguarding for personal use.
“The class can benefit anyone because students learn about first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillators, among other vital skills. This also is ideal for parents, who will know how to react in case their children experience trouble in a body of water,” Gonzalez said.
The course will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:50 p.m. at the LCC main campus.
Academic and career advising for the new term resumes on Monday, Nov. 27.
Advising for first-time students and those who have not declared a major is available in the Counseling Center Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Advising for returning students who have declared a major is available in department offices by appointment Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Registration is available online at http://ole.laredo.edu from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., including weekends. The class schedule also is available online.
The spring term begins Monday, Jan. 15.
For more information about the Lifeguard Training course, call the LCC Kinesiology Department at 721-5858.
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West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
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