High school students from the Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus have been training on various techniques to rescue and extrication victims from swimming pools. The training earned students credits toward their American Red Cross lifeguard certifications.
The students are part of instructor Kathy Young’s Lifeguard Training class at the school. They worked on “passive victim extrication” techniques and used a backboard at the the edge of the pool. The skill requires teamwork and communication.
Students attending the NFA Main Campis can take lifeguard training as a physical education class to earn American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification. Students must meet certain age and skill criteria before the course starts.
The course prepares students to become pool lifeguards and serves as a basis for those who wish to pursue further certification to work at lakes, beaches, water parks and other aquatic environments. Besides learning how to recognize victims, candidates learn CPR and basic First Aid.
