[HESCO] FW: New online training helps City recruit, train lifeguards

[thomas.bowman at okc.gov]

FYI -

T.O. Bowman
Office of Sustainability
City of Oklahoma City
(405) 297-3168
okc.gov/sustain<http://www.okc.gov/sustain/index.html>

From: Yager, Kristy D
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 11:26 AM
To: Yager, Kristy D
Subject: New online training helps City recruit, train lifeguards

[Description: Description: Description: cid:129255020 at 06012009-0CA5]
01/28/13
                                                        Media Contact:  Jennifer McClintock,
                                                                          297-3903, 464-9288 (cell)

New online training helps City recruit, train lifeguards

The City's Parks and Recreation Department is relying on a new tool to facilitate its lifeguard training program this year: the internet. Participants who sign up to train with the City's lifeguard certification program can now receive a portion of their training online.

"This is a tremendous benefit for participants, many of whom attend school outside the Oklahoma City area," says Nick Gaddis, aquatics program coordinator. "Students can go through the online course content on a time frame that suits their individual schedules, then meet up as a class for skills training and assessment."

The online course is part of the American Red Cross' Blended Learning program. Course content includes teamwork, victim assessment, rescue and surveillance, as well as First Aid and CPR. Participants who pass the course successfully will receive Red Cross Lifeguard Certification through The City of Oklahoma City.

"This in no way replaces the value of hands-on learning," says Gaddis, "but gives students a solid information base before walking into the classroom."

When students sign up for the program, they are assigned an online log-in with the American Red Cross where they can watch videos and other presentations. As each online module is completed, students will meet in a traditional classroom setting at Foster Indoor Pool, 401 NE 4th Street, for hands-on learning and skills assessment. Instructors with the Parks and Recreation Department will monitor students' progress throughout the course.

The Parks and Recreation Department is actively recruiting lifeguards for its 2013 summer pool season, which starts Memorial Day weekend.

The blended lifeguard training schedule for 2013 is:

Blended Learning Course - Access to a computer with internet is required. Students will follow an online course syllabus provided to them by class instructors then meet for skills training and assessment at Foster Indoor Pool, 614 NE 4th Street, Oklahoma City.

BL Session #1      Jan 29 - Feb 9      T/Th/Sa
BL Session #2      Feb 19 - Mar 2    T/Th/Sa
BL Session #3      Mar 11 - Mar 15  M/T/W/Th/F         9am-3pm all week
LG #5                   Mar 26 - Apr 13  T/Th/Sa

Traditional lifeguard training and refresher course training for returning guards will begin in March.

Cost for the training is $35 per session for those who qualify and are hired as a lifeguard by The City of Oklahoma City and meet specific employment qualifications. For those who are not hired by the City, the course cost is $135.

Course candidates must be 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled class session, and must pass a basic aquatics qualification test. Candidates must be at least 16 years old to work for The City of Oklahoma City.

For more information, or to see a complete lifeguard training schedule, visit www.okc.gov/parks<http://www.okc.gov/parks>, or call Foster Indoor Pool at (405) 239-6898.

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