Leadership training Courses have always been a focus for the aquatic centre in North Battleford, and are even more so today with the new Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre. The courses cover a wide variety of training endeavours and are important to this facility and to the region as a whole.
The pools, over their long history, have been the starting place for many careers. For a great many, a job as a lifeguard was the first job of their working lives, and doubtless that job shaped much of what went on in their later lives. A countless number of young people earned one of their first pay cheques at one of the pools - and some careers at those pools have spanned more than three decades. There are many stories told about adventures over the years when old lifeguards and instructors meet. And there are several families where multiple generations have worked at the pool for a period. The aquatic centre is a unique place where close friendships are developed as young people develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime.
Leadership training has traditionally begun with the development of lifeguards followed by the training of (assistant) Water Safety Instructors and continues along many avenues throughout each person's career at the pool. For some it is simply a matter of re-certifying every two years to stay current. For others it is a process of taking new courses for additional certifications that will benefit both the individual and the facility.
The centre changed its program in the past year from the Lifesaving Society to the Red Cross program, the same agency that provides the Learn to Swim program. The familiar Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross are still recognized, but are not taught at the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre. Rather the facility teaches the Red Cross Assistant Lifeguard and Red Cross Lifeguard programs.
The Assistant Lifeguard program is open to people 12 years and up who have completed Level 10 while the Lifeguard Program is open to those 15 years and up who have completed the Assistant Lifeguard program. Successful completion of the Lifeguard Program is a requirement to take a position as a lifeguard at the pool.
These two programs provide instruction is safe rescue procedures and specialized rescue work along with surveillance techniques that are essential to the work of a lifeguard.
One twenty-four hour Assistant Lifeguard course is offered each season - fall, winter and spring. The twenty hour Lifeguard course is offered once in the fall and once in the winter. If interest warrants, there may be more of each offered.
Continued next week.
