Chances are, anyone reading this blog has a soft spot for two things: water and safety. Combining these ideas, we thought it would be appropriate to address how to become a water safety instructor. If you are curious about how to take your interest to a new level, today’s post will help get you started on your journey.
What is the Difference Between a Swim Instructor and a Water Safety Instructor?
There are multiple levels water safety instruction. Beyond basic water competency and swimming instructors, you have the opportunity to become a Water Safety Instructor. In this next section, we’ll take you through the basic certification process via the American Red Cross. There are multiple ways and places to receive training, but this reliable organization is a good place to start for anyone looking to learn.
Become a Basic Swimming Instructor
The first level of training is to become a basic swimming instructor. These helpful individuals will learn how to teach the basics of swimming. According to the Red Cross’s website, they’ll teach fundamental “Learn-to-Swim” courses, including Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, and Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-3.
In addition, they’ll learn the general basics of water safety. This includes teaching water safety at public pools, home pools and hot tubs, and natural bodies of water. Each requires a different skill set and safety precautions, so this is great information. They’ll also learn to recognize drowning and how to react accordingly.
For extra measure, there is a science component to the course. Students will learn about how and why certain objects float, resistance to movement, and creating movement in water.
All of these lessons and more combine with basic swimming and survival skills to help children and adults better acclimate to the water. Additionally, some courses can focus on teaching people with specific impairments or health conditions how to swim safely.
Become a Water Safety Instructor
Up next, let’s explore how to become a water safety instructor. First, what does this mean? Put simply, training to become a water safety instructor prepares students how to teach swimming, diving and water safety on a variety of levels and for a variety of age groups.
The Red Cross offers certification on how to become a Water Safety Instructor. The process prepares candidates to teach Red Cross Swim programs. Besides this, it teaches candidates to introduce and develop fitness activities, as well as water safety and swimming skills in several Red Cross programs.
This type of certification encompasses all of the skills that a candidate would learn in the Basic Swimming Instructor course, plus several more. These extra courses include Learn-to-Swim Levels 4-6 and Adult Swim.
The path to become a Water Safety Instructor aims to produce savvy teachers that can impart higher-level swim skills to students of all ages.
Water Safety Instructors will also learn how to teach:
- stroke mechanics for all competitive strokes, as well as starts, turns and headfirst entries,
- water safety certification courses, including Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Basic Water Rescue,
- fundamentals of diving from a diving board, and
- aquatic fitness and training for people of any age.
According to the Red Cross: “This certification is the gold standard, and provides the most comprehensive training for swim instructors.”
Requirements for Water Safety Instructors
Of course, not just anyone can jump right into becoming a Water Safety Instructor. First they must complete basic water certification. Additionally, the American Red Cross requires candidates to be at least 15 years of age. Furthermore, a candidate must be certified in these areas:
- emergency first aid and
- assistant lifeguard certification,
- or otherwise have the Bronze Cross certification.
Finally, just like CPR certification, Water Safety Instruction certification needs to be regularly renewed. There are always new water safety techniques to learn, so a refresher course is always the best way to stay abreast of new data.
If you’d like to learn more or find a course in your area, contact the American Red Cross.
