First Aid training as well as CPR certification is a necessity for lifeguards because of the risk of injury to those swimming. These courses can be taken through a variety of places, the most prominent being the American Red Cross; times and locations vary depending on the location and topics covered, but the standard sports first aid course gives the participant a 2 year first aid certification.
Why First Aid for Lifeguards
First aid training for lifeguards is an integral part of lifeguard certification. Lifeguards are responsible to treat various types of injuries from both people who are swimming as well as those around the swimming area; for instance, swimmers can be injured in the pool, while those watching the swimmers can slip on the wet deck or suffer some type of illness or medical emergency such as a heart attack. When a patron at the facility has any type of emergency, it is the duty of the lifeguard to administer both basic first aid as well as any type of lifesaving measures such as CPR. If a person has a laceration or large scrape, the lifeguard will be able to patch the victim up, without the need for an ambulance. At the same time, if there is a life and death emergency, the lifeguard needs to be able to perform CPR; since when breathing stops, time is of the essence; therefore there is no time to wait for the paramedics to get there to begin CPR, it needs to be started right away. If there is an injury such as a broken bone or severe sprain, with the first aid course, the lifeguard will be able to successfully splint the injury and keep the victim comfortable until they can be transferred to a healthcare facility for proper treatment.
What Type of First Aid Course
The American Red Cross, partnered with the United States Olympic Committee has designed a first aid training course specifically for those 
working or performing in any sporting event or venue called Sports Safety Training. Lifeguards can also benefit from this course since it focuses on those injuries that may occur during sports, such as swimming. In this course, the participant will learn not only basic first aid, including how to patch up both minor and major injuries, but also cardiac emergencies, breathing emergencies and sudden illnesses. Child CPR is also an optional add on with this course. It is strongly recommended that all lifeguards are certified in child CPR since it is different to perform CPR on a child as opposed to an adult. Thousands of children die each year due to drowning; deaths which could be prevented if those around the child are certified in child CPR; there is just too high of a risk when children are around water in general. In addition to the basic first aid and CPR, this course will also teach the lifeguard how to prevent injuries from happening in the first place; making their aquatic facility a safe and fun environment for all who go there.
