Inaugural Aquatics & Lifeguard Training Class Has Three RRHS Students Earn Certifications

One of the newest course offerings at Rocky River High School (RRHS) is Aquatics & Lifeguard Training. The class is taught by Mr. Mark Harris, a fitness and health teacher at RRHS and Rocky River Middle School (RRMS) and the head coach of the varsity swim team.

Harris began lifeguarding at age 15 and boasts more than 19 years of experience, including eight years as a lifeguard on the Jersey Shore.

“When I was first interviewed at Rocky River, Dr. Shoaf, Ms. Anderson and Mr. Gifford asked me what are some ideas I had to improve the Fitness department,” Harris said. “The first thing I told them was that I am certified in lifeguarding and have been a lifeguard instructor for a number of years.”

What started out as an idea during the interview process has come full circle with the class making its debut in the fall of 2018.

The one-semester class is offered to all RRHS students for course credit and those in the class may choose to take the lifeguard certification exam.

Three students – Aiden Hocking, Dalal Ibrahim and Jack Miller – completed the class and opted to take the necessary tests and requirements to earn their lifeguard certification.

All three passed and are now certified American Red Cross lifeguards.

“The students worked extremely hard throughout the entire course,” Harris said. “I wish everyone could see the growth of their skills in the pool, their life saving skills, AED skills, and breathing emergencies skills. Their confidence in and out of the water has really increased.”

The purpose of the course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and provide professional-level care until EMS personnel arrive.

The course follows the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training curriculum and also combines Grades 9-12 Ohio Department of Education physical education standards.

At the beginning of the semester, Harris focused the class on getting into life-saving shape. He then began to sprinkle in the curriculum goals as the course continued.

“We now have three students that are American Red Cross Life Guards and looking for employment,” Harris said.

Harris noted that the Rocky River Recreation Department has already reached out about potential jobs for the trio that have completed the certification.

“They have contacted me several times,” Harris said. “They came and talked to the students and got them excited about what it would look like to be working full time or part time at the civic center. One of the students recently earned a position teaching swim lessons at the Civic Center.”

In order to receive the lifeguard certification, candidates must complete a number of tasks. Students need to swim 300 yards continuously, surface dive at least nine feet and pass a timed brick test. The test consists of swimming from the low end to the deep end, surface diving to pick up a five-pound brick, putting the brick on their chest and kicking backwards to the low end.

The test must be completed in one minute and 40 seconds.

“There are physical challenges you have to be able to complete if you want to be certified in lifeguarding,” Harris said.

Finally, all candidates must pass final written exams with a minimum grade of 80-percent.

“When we started the class in August, the students were extremely shy and quiet,” Harris said. “But now you can see that they can go into any situation and feel comfortable. I am proud of them. There was a lot of learning and growing that took place and it was really neat to see their faces when I told them they passed the tests. It was genuine excitement.”