• Swim Lessons


    Learn to swim with confidence. The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program, taught by Water Safety Instructor® certified professionals, commonly referred to as a WSI™, offers swim lessons for infants, children, teenagers and adults. With classes for those ages six months and older, you and your entire family can learn to master the skills needed to help gain the knowledge and skills to become water competent, which includes being water smart – knowing how to prevent and respond to water emergencies.


    Find a Swim Class

    Find a Swim Class

    Red Cross swim lessons are available throughout the country. With convenient access to lessons, and caring, thoughtful instruction, Red Cross training providers can help you learn to swim in a safe environment – and at your own pace. Find a class in your area or visit your local pool and ask for Red Cross swim lessons.


    Free Swim App

    Free Swim App

    Red Cross Swim, sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, can help children and adults learn to be safer in and around water. Knowing how to swim is exciting and opens the door to many opportunities, but water is not without risk. Learning to enjoy the water safely should be the first step for anyone who will be around water. Have fun learning water safety in an engaging way with video and activities for kids and families. Track your kids’ progress with this FREE app as they learn to swim.


    A Century of Swim Lessons & Water Safety

    A Century of Swim Lessons & Water Safety

    Launched in 2014, which marked our century of swimming safety education, the Red Cross Centennial Campaign is increasing our impact in communities with high drowning rates or numbers of drownings. The campaign helps our training providers reach families who would not otherwise have the opportunity to access this lifesaving training.

    Our aim is to create an ecosystem of water safety in each community that starts with teaching children and adults to become water competent, which is a combination of knowing water safety, having swimming skills and knowing how to help others in a water emergency. The Aquatics Centennial Campaign is helping make the water a safer place for everyone and building confidence in water, for life.

    Looking to take a class? Find swim lessons and aquatics certification classes in your area.

    Looking to teach water safety to children? Learn more about our Longfellow WHALE Tales water safety for children program.


    Why Train with the Red Cross

    Red Cross Lifeguard Certification & CPR Training Matters

    Two New Jersey lifeguards, Rosie and Kendall, and bystander Janet saved the life of a young boy at a community pool in Morris Plains, NJ using the Red Cross Lifeguard Certification and CPR training they received. The American Red Cross honored them for their heroic action.

    Red Cross training matters
    For more than a century, we've prepared people to respond to emergencies of all sizes - from the everyday to the large disaster. Join the millions we train every year and learn the skills that can save a life.

    "Without my friend's training, I would not be here"
    - Watch Bre Dumke's Story

    "The first 7 minutes are critical"
    - Watch More