OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Department of
Aquatics is offering UM students and area residents a
chance to become lifeguards with its Red
Cross-certification class, scheduled the last two weekends
in April at the Turner Center.
With classes set for April 19, 20, 26 and 27, the course
will accommodate an unlimited number of signees who meet
the physical requirements. Participants must attend all
four days of instruction to gain certification. Classes run
10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day and the cost is $175, which
includes the instruction book, mask and certification.
Scholarships are available for those interested in joining
the Ole Miss Aquatics lifeguard team.
Physical requirements for the course include being able to
complete a 500-yard swim using rhythmic breathing in a
combination of breast stroke and freestyle swimming,
retrieving a pool brick from the bottom of the pool and
returning it to the other side of the pool while holding
the brick at chest level with both hands, and the ability
to tread water for 10 minutes.
Instruction for each class will alternate between water
work and classroom work.
“Only about 30 percent of lifeguarding is in water skills,
with a high emphasis on preventing accidents,” said Mark
Garneau, assistant director of campus recreation and
aquatics. “This course also includes CPR, first aid and
automatic external defibrillation.”
The course is usually offered several times each semester;
however, pool repairs early this spring delayed this year’s
classes, Garneau said.
For more information, contact Ole Miss Aquatics at
662-915-SWIM (7946) or swim@olemiss.edu.