Lifeguards: Get Ready for Summer 2013

Want to be a Town of East Hampton lifeguard? Grab your swim suits and head for the pool, training starts this week.

John Ryan Sr. said the town offers several courses to get swimmers prepared.

The first starts Sunday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. It's a skills and conditioning training program for those 15 and older (as of July 1, 2013) at the YMCA East Hampton RECenter and continues on Tusdays from 7 to 9:15 p.m. through April 16. No class will be held on Easter Sunday, March 31. Sign-up at the RECenter at the first class for $40.

This training is not a Lifeguard Certification Course, but prepares you to take the course in May and June that certifies you in pool, stillwater or ocean lifeguard.

A training, evaluating and testing program for the 2013 summer junior lifeguard program also starts Sunday. Kids 9 to 14 (as of July 1, 2013) can meet at the RECenter on Sundays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The class continues through June 16 (except for March 31 and April 21). There is no fee.

A Stillwater Lifeguard Certification Course will be given at the YMCA RECenter and the Maidstone Club for those at least 15 years old (as of July 1, 2013) and who are in good swimming shape. The class starts April 28 and runs through May 22. There are eight sessions given — Sundays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 7 to 9:15 p.m.

The Ocean Lifeguard Certification Course will be given at the Maidstone Club ocean and pool on weekdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. (rain or shine). Fourteen sessions are held from May 28 to June 14. Practical tests will be offered on June 15 and June 24, and a written test will be given on June 14. You must be 16 as of July 1, 2013 to be an ocean lifeguard.

Tom Field will teach the CPR courses for both certification courses, given over two days, on June 3 and 5 or June 17 and 19 from 7 to 10 p.m. in Amagansett. The fee is $150 for the town and $30 for CPR.

More information is available on the PDF fliers to the right of the article.

Will you or your child become a lifeguard this year? Tell us in the comments below.