The Red Cross lifeguard certification course provides participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

This course is designed for those who have never been lifeguard certified before or whose lifeguard certification has lapsed.

Course Locations:

Classes take place at the locations below.

• Swim Quest (6800 Deer Run Dr., Midlothian, VA 23112)
• Evergreen Recreation Association (1201 Walton Bluff Parkway, Midlothian, VA 23114).

You will be contacted by email about a week before your class with the final location for your session.

Participants must:

• Be at least 15 years of age by the last day of the course.
• Attend the entire class.

If you have any questions, reach out to Rachel Peters at rachel.peters@swimmetro.com or by phone call or text at (804) 873-3547.

Course Structure:

• Pre-course session 1 hour: designated times and dated will be sent to you after you register. This must be completed before the first scheduled day of your class. The pre-course consists of:
  • Swim 300 yards without stopping (freestyle, breaststroke or a combination of the two).
  • Perform a brick rescue, which requires participants to swim 20 yards, submerge to a depth of 7 feet, retrieve a diving brick and kick 20 yards on their back holding the brick in less than 1 minute 40 seconds.
  • Tread water without using their hands for 2 minutes.
• Day 1 (usually Saturday), this is an in-person session that will take place from 9am to 6pm at either SwimQuest or Evergreen pool.
• Day 2 (usually Sunday), this is an in-person session that will take place from 9am to 7pm at either SwimQuest or Evergreen pool..
• There is also an e-learning component that participants will need to complete on the Red Cross Learning Center before the first session of the course. The instructor will reach out a week or two before your course date with instructions on how to complete that training.