The Winning Tradition Continues

A message from Scott Conner,
Vice President, Health and Safety, Youth and Community Services

It is the mission of the American Red Cross to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Commodore Wilbert E. Longfellow brought this philosophy to aquatics in 1914 when he started the American Red Cross Life Saving Corps. This program was the first of its kind, and it contributed to a dramatic reduction in the number of lives lost as a result of drowning. Since 1914, the Red Cross has continued to expand upon Commodore Longfellow's early lifesaving innovations. Today's American Red Cross Lifeguarding Program consists of courses and modules that thoroughly train individuals to meet the mission of the Red Cross and to save lives. The winning tradition continues with the release of the Lifeguard Management course.

The Lifeguard Management course is designed for those who supervise lifeguards. It covers the responsibilities of a lifeguard supervisor, the selection and training of lifeguards, team building principles, injury prevention, risk management and emergency response planning. By implementing this course, aquatic providers supply their staff with further knowledge and skills that they need to effectively manage lifeguards and to create an environment that keeps patrons, staff and facilities as safe as possible.

In addition, we are pleased to present this Lifeguard Management section of our Web site as a source of information, tools and resources for those who manage lifeguards. This section will be updated regularly with lifeguarding-related articles, new training ideas, training opportunities, and examples of practices and techniques that are working well for others that may also work for you.

We hope that you will join in our winning tradition. Be sure that your aquatic team has the proper training, including the new Lifeguard Management course. Visit the Lifeguard Management Web site at least monthly to stay up-to-date on the latest information. To learn about courses in your area, or to obtain course materials please contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Together, we can save a life.

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