LIFEGUARD TRAINING HEADQUARTERS – Your Center for Life Guard Training
Kankakee County lies along the Kankakee River in northeastern Illinois, home to Kankakee River State Park and the city of Kankakee, its county seat.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Kankakee County’s river-focused recreation scene.
Lifeguard training in Kankakee County, Illinois at a glance
Kankakee County, Illinois: $195.00, 27.5 hours in total (7.5 online plus 2 days in person), minimum age 15, and a 300 yard swim.
- Cost
- $195.00 per participant, group discounts available.
- Length
- 7.5 hours online plus 2 days in person (27.5 hours total).
- Minimum age
- 15 by the last day of class.
- Swim test
- Swim 300 yards without stopping, tread 2 minutes with no arms, and bring a 10-lb brick up from 7 to 10 ft inside 1:40.
- Certifications
- Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid.
- Valid for
- Two years. Recertification is 10 hours in person.
- Format
- Blended, online at your own pace, then an in-person skills session available on request in Kankakee County, Illinois.
CMAHC-Aligned Training
Curriculum review at American Aquatics and Safety Training tracks the current standards of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Our curriculum is designed for park, community pool, and aquatic facility staff serving Kankakee, Bourbonnais, and surrounding Kankakee County communities.
Core Curriculum
In Kankakee County, two disciplines make up the coursework: water rescue and surveillance, then professional resuscitation.
Water Rescue & Surveillance
- Active vs. Passive Recognition: Scan a zone to a repeatable pattern, and tell an actively struggling swimmer from a silent, unconscious one.
- Water Entries: Select and execute the right entry for the depth and deck layout in front of you.
- In-Water Stabilization: Stabilise and protect a casualty with suspected head, neck or back injury while still in the water.
CPR & AED Training
- High-Quality Compressions: Correct compression rate, correct depth, and a full release between compressions.
- AED Operation: Get the pads in the right place and work the unit into the cycle with minimal downtime.
- Rescue Breathing: Deliver rescue breaths at the right ratio for adult, child and infant casualties.
Kankakee County Lifeguard Certification Requirements
To enroll in Kankakee County, candidates must meet the following age and physical performance requirements.
Minimum Age
- 15 years or older for pool/waterpark certification.
- 16 years or older for waterfront/beach certification.
Physical Performance Test
These are screening standards, not fitness goals: they confirm you can work in deep water before rescue training starts.
- Swim 300 yards unbroken, choosing front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
- Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
- Recover a 10-pound object lying at 7 to 10 feet inside 1 minute 40 seconds, then carry it back through the water without touching a ladder or the steps.
Skills You'll Master
The curriculum is organized into three core disciplines: water rescue, resuscitation, and first aid.
Water Rescue Techniques & Surveillance
- Reaching and throwing assists using rescue equipment.
- Active and passive drowning victim rescues.
- Multiple-victim response prioritization.
- Submerged victim recovery in shallow and deep water.
CPR / AED for Professional Responders
- Adult, child, and infant CPR technique.
- Two-rescuer CPR coordination.
- AED use on adult, child, and infant victims.
- Choking and airway obstruction response.
Advanced First Aid & Medical Emergencies
- Bleeding control and wound care.
- Recognition and management of shock, heat-related illness and further medical emergencies.
How It Works: The Path to Certification
The Kankakee County programme is delivered in two halves: self-paced study first, then a single scheduled practical block.
- Step 1: Work through the online modules on rescue theory, CPR and AED, and first aid basics.
- Step 2: Contact us to reserve your in-person skills day and lock in the schedule.
- Step 3: Attend in person, pass the water prerequisite, then pass the rescue skills evaluation.
- Step 4: Complete certification by passing the final written assessment.
Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session
Pack the following for your skills day:
Proper Swimwear
A functional, athletic-style swimsuit designed for rigorous physical activity.
Towels & Warm Layers
Two or more dry towels and a warm change of clothes, which matter more than people expect between water drills.
Hydration & Nutrition
A water bottle you can refill, plus high-energy snacks for the demanding practical sessions.
Documentation
Age-verifying photo ID, government or school issued, presented on Day 1.
Certification
Upon successful completion, students in Kankakee County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
Course content is reviewed against the CMAHC-referenced criteria in force.
Since each organisation sets its own bar, confirm directly with your intended employer that this certification is one they accept.
Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Kankakee County?
Kankakee River State Park and area community pools bring steady summer recreation traffic, and local aquatic programs depend on trained lifeguards to staff the season safely.
Throughout the course, you’ll receive hands-on instruction in:
- Injury prevention and facility safety
- Patron surveillance techniques
- Water rescue skills
- Victim assessment
- First aid
- CPR/AED
Career Opportunities
A lifeguard certification can open the door to rewarding employment opportunities in Kankakee County and beyond.
- Pool and waterpark lifeguard positions
- Resort and hotel aquatics staff
- Community and recreation center supervision
- Camp and school aquatics programs
- Aquatics facility management
Positions on beaches, oceans and waterfronts frequently call for open-water or waterfront rescue training that a standard pool certification does not include.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lifeguard Training in Kankakee County
How long does lifeguard training take?
Total contact and study time is in the region of 25 to 27.5 hours. The blended structure means the theory is done online in advance, leaving the in-person session for practical work.
Where is this certification accepted?
Yes, the certification follows standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) and is issued by American Aquatics and Safety Training.
What should I bring to my in-person skills session?
Pack a swimsuit you can work in, a towel, a swim cap, dry clothes to change into, water, and photo identification that proves your age. Goggles are permitted for the swim but must come off for the object retrieval.
What happens if I don't pass the physical prerequisites?
The prerequisites are a safety gate and cannot be waived. Miss them on day one and instructors will tell you exactly what to practise, with a transfer into a later session once you are ready.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in Illinois by County
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All Illinois counties are listed on lifeguard training in Illinois.
Enroll in a lifeguard class in Kankakee County
$195 Expect 27.5 hours: online coursework plus one skills session in person. The resulting certification is valid for two years.
Delivery and scheduling sit with American Aquatics & Safety Training, our training partner.
Lifeguard classes in Kankakee County and how they work
Booking a lifeguard class in Kankakee County means completing the online portion first and then attending a scheduled skills session in person. Lifeguard certification in Kankakee County bundles water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid into one 27.5-hour program.
What a lifeguard course in Kankakee County covers
The syllabus teaches surveillance and scanning, rescue technique, emergency action planning, and the CPR/AED and First Aid skills a professional rescuer is expected to perform. The in-person session is where each skill is signed off.
Prerequisites for lifeguard courses in Kankakee County
Lifeguard courses in Kankakee County are open to anyone aged 15 or over who can pass the swim test. People who become a lifeguard in Kankakee County find work at community pools, waterparks, schools and universities, and supervised open water across Illinois.
How much lifeguard certification in Kankakee County costs
Lifeguard training in Kankakee County is priced at $195 and includes every part of the course, online modules, the in-person skills session and two-year certification. Lifeguard certification classes in Kankakee County are available year-round.
More lifeguard training locations
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Last updated September 20, 2026