The Department of Parks and Recreation will be offering an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course at the Pāhoa Community Aquatic Center on March 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, from 8:30am to 3:30 p.m.

The total fee, which covers the $75 course fee as well as $41 for certification is $116.

Participants must pre-register and pass a prerequisite test.

To schedule a prerequisite test, interested candidates should contact the Pahoa Pool at 965-2700 or the Aquatics Specialist at 961-8694.

To pass the prerequisite test, participants must be able to accomplish the following:

• Complete a 300-yard continuous swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both;
• Complete 2 minutes of treading water, without using hands
• Complete a timed event in 1 minute 40 seconds: o Starting in the water, swim 20 yards, retrieve a 10-pound brick from the deep end, return the brick to the starting point and exit the water.

Participants are responsible for their own supplies, including CPR mask, swimsuit, goggles, towel, American Red Cross Lifeguard Manual, etc. The manual can be downloaded for free (about 3/4 down) at: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/participantmaterials