Lifeguard and CPR Training

YMCA Lifeguard demonstrating on a CPR dummy during CPR and AED training

Learn skills at the Y to be prepared in an emergency.

Lifeguards have serious responsibilities, and quality training can help save lives. The YMCA is a national leader in water safety, and we provide lifeguard training and CPR/AED certification courses.

Upcoming Lifeguard & CPR Trainings

Junior Lifeguard

Has your swimmer already passed Stage 6 and is looking for additional aquatics training? The Junior Lifeguard program will teach them CPR and basic life saving tactics that lifeguards use every day.

Swimmers must be able to complete Stage 6 curriculum.

This is a practice / training class. Participants will not be certified as lifeguards at the end of the class.

Dates Days Times Location Ages Register
May 9 – Jun 20, 2026 S 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM South Oakland Family YMCA Youth / 6–14 years Register

Lifeguard Training – American Red Cross

In Person Class dates and times:

Friday May 15, 4pm-9pm

Saturday May 16, 9am- 7pm

Sunday May 17, 3pm- 8pm

Monday May 18, 4pm-9pm

Online Learning must be completed before in person session dates.

Prerequisite water skills must be completed on the first day of the course and are as follows:

Swimming Prerequisite:

Swim 150 continuous yards in either breaststroke or freestyle.

Tread Water for 2 minutes with only legs

Swim an additional 50 continuous yards in either breast stroke or freestyle.

Timed Event:

Candidates will have 1 minute and 40 seconds to enter the water and swim 20 yards to retrieve a 10 pound object using a surface dive, retrieve the object and swim 20 yards back to entry point on your back.

The American Red Cross Certification is a comprehensive course that includes complete CPR/First Aid/AED Training. Practical hands-on training, in conjunction with scenario based training, provides for an experiential training content. When practicing rescue skills for an unconscious Guest in Distress, not only are we practicing water skills, but also implementing AR/CPR/UNCONSCIOUS CHOKING, First Aid skills, and AED use, all in a single scenario based emergency simulation. All of the skills are integrated. CPR/First Aid/AED/ are not strictly classroom based. The textbook information is covered in a classroom setting, however, these skills are then integrated and practiced repeatedly, in scenario based simulated emergencies. These simulated events are never the same; all elements of the skill base must be utilized in order to be successful, and lifeguards must complete given tactile, hands-on, practice with simulated events and real people.

Blended learning (Online training) with in-person test out. Online training will be sent via email upon registration and must be 100% complete to attend the in-person training.

*** No refunds will be given for failure to complete the online learning or non completion of the prerequisite skills. ***

Dates Days Times Location Ages Register
May 15–18, 2026 S M F S 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM Boll Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register
May 15–17, 2026 S F S 3:30 AM – 4:30 PM South Oakland Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register
Jun 4–10, 2026 S M Tu W Th 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM Boll Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register
Jun 18–21, 2026 S Th F S 3:00 AM – 5:00 PM Macomb Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register

Shallow Water Lifeguard Training – American Red Cross

The American Red Cross Certification is a comprehensive course that includes complete CPR/First Aid/AED Training. Practical hands-on training, in conjunction with scenario based training, provides for an experiential training content. When practicing rescue skills for an unconscious victim, not only are we practicing water skills, but also implementing AR/CPR/UNCONSCIOUS CHOKING, First Aid skills, and AED use, all in a single scenario based emergency simulation. All of the skills are integrated. CPR/First Aid/AED/ are not strictly classroom based. The textbook information is covered in a classroom setting, however, these skills are then integrated and practiced repeatedly, in scenario based simulated emergencies. These simulated events are never the same; all elements of the skill base must be utilized in order to be successful, and lifeguards must complete given tactile, hands-on, practice with simulated events and real people.

Blended learning (Online training) with in-person test out. Online training will be sent via email upon registration and must be 100% complete to attend the in-person training.

Dates Days Times Location Ages Register
May 13–17, 2026 S W Th S 5:30 AM – 5:00 PM Downriver Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register
Jun 12–15, 2026 S M F S 5:00 AM – 5:00 PM Downriver Family YMCA All Ages / 15+ years Register

Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid – Blended Learning

Prior to attending the class each participant must successfully pass an online portion. Participants will receive an email with the link to the online training. The American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Blended Learning course provides participants with the knowledge and skills they need to assess, recognize and care for patients who are experiencing respiratory arrest or respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, airway obstruction, opioid overdose or other life-threatening injury or illness. When a patient experiences a life-threatening emergency, healthcare providers need to act swiftly and promptly. The course emphasizes providing high-quality care and integrating psychomotor skills with critical thinking and problem solving to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
Dates Days Times Location Ages Register
Jun 9, 2026 Tu 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM Downriver Family YMCA Adult / 15+ years Register