Lake Mohawk offers lifeguard course

SPARTA — Lake Mohawk Country Club’s Marine Services is opening their Waterfront Lifeguarding course to non members this year. Beginning this season, LMCC opened both their basic and in-service training to other lake associations.
“There is not only a local shortage of Lifeguard personnel and candidates, but it is a nationwide problem as well,” noted Rich Carlson, Waterfront Director for Lake Mohawk. “While we’re training our own Lifeguards, in cooperation with the Coalition of Lake Associations, we decided to offer both initial certification and In-Service training to the smaller lake communities.”
The Waterfront Lifeguarding course will be conducted beginning with the prerequisite testing on July 7th. The course will run Monday through Thursday, 8AM to 12 noon from July 10th to July 20st. The fee for this course is $225 for LMCC members and $300 for non members. Space is limited to 12 and members will have preference. Candidates must be at least 15 years old by the end of the course. Please contact Rich Carlson at carlsonlmcc@yahoo.com for registration. Candidates must successfully complete the following Prerequisite Swimming Skills Evaluation:
• Swim 550 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to swim both the front crawl and breaststroke. Swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Goggles may be used for this portion.
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only legs. Candidates should place their hands under their armpits.
• Swim 20 yards, surface dive to 7-10 ft. deep, recover 10 lb. object, return to surface, swim 20 yards back to starting point with object, exit water without assistance within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
• Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4-7 ft. of water, resurface and swim 5 yards.