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Lifeguard Training in Davison County, South Dakota

Davison County, home to Mitchell, offers residents access to lifeguard and water safety training through local aquatic facilities and community pool programs. As a regional hub in south-central South Dakota, Mitchell provides convenient access to both classroom instruction and in-water skills training.
Courses are available in traditional in-person formats and blended learning options that combine online coursework with hands-on certification sessions, providing flexibility for students, seasonal workers, and adults. This structure supports teens entering their first summer job as well as returning lifeguards renewing certification.
Lifeguard Training in Davison County

Lifeguard training in Davison County, South Dakota at a glance

In Davison County, South Dakota the course is $195.00 and runs 27.5 hours (7.5 online, 2 days in person). Entry requires 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
Continuous 300 yard swim; 2 minute legs-only tread; 10-lb brick retrieved from 7 to 10 ft in under 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 Davison County, South Dakota.

CMAHC-Aligned Training

American Aquatics and Safety Training measures its curriculum against the prevailing standards of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Certification is issued by the training provider you enroll with, though acceptance varies by employer and facility.

Core Curriculum

In Davison County, the coursework splits into two disciplines, water rescue and surveillance, and professional resuscitation.

Water Rescue & Surveillance

  • Active vs. Passive Recognition: Read the water methodically, separating visible distress from the passive submersion that makes no noise.
  • Water Entries: Choose an entry that suits the depth and the layout, then perform it at speed.
  • 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: Place the pads correctly and fold the device into the compression cycle without pausing longer than needed.
  • Rescue Breathing: Deliver rescue breaths at the right ratio for adult, child and infant casualties.

Davison County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in Davison County, candidates must meet the following age and physical performance requirements.

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

The point of these benchmarks is to establish baseline water competence before anyone practises a rescue on you or with you.
  • Swim 300 yards unbroken, choosing front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
  • A 10-pound object sits at 7 to 10 feet. Retrieve it and swim it back inside 1 minute 40 seconds, avoiding the ladder and the pool 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.
  • Identifying shock and heat illness early, and responding to other medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Courses serving Davison County run on a blended model, which keeps most of the study off the calendar and away from a classroom.
  • Step 1: Complete the remote coursework spanning rescue theory, CPR and AED, and core first aid.
  • Step 2: Contact us to reserve your in-person skills day and lock in the schedule.
  • Step 3: Attend the session and satisfy both the physical prerequisite and the rescue evaluation.
  • Step 4: Sit and pass the final written evaluation to finish.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

For the skills clinic, bring:
Proper swimwear icon

Proper Swimwear

A functional, athletic-style swimsuit designed for rigorous physical activity.

Towels and warm layers icon

Towels & Warm Layers

Two or more dry towels and a warm change of clothes, which matter more than people expect between water drills.

Hydration and nutrition icon

Hydration & Nutrition

Water and calorie-dense snacks. The practical work is tiring and blood sugar matters by the afternoon.

Documentation icon

Documentation

Age-verifying photo ID, government or school issued, presented on Day 1.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Davison County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
Curriculum review runs against current CMAHC-referenced criteria.
What an employer accepts varies by organisation and by region. Confirm with yours before assuming this certification covers their requirement.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Davison County?

As a regional center, Mitchell and Davison County offer steady seasonal demand for certified lifeguards at community pools and recreation programs. Certification provides reliable income potential along with CPR and rescue skills valuable to the broader community.
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 Davison 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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lifeguard Training in Davison County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Expect around 25 to 27.5 hours across the whole course, with the classroom portion completed online ahead of the mandatory in-person skills session.
Yes. Standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) underpin the American Aquatics and Safety Training certification.
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.
These are mandatory, because rescue training cannot proceed safely without them. A candidate who falls short leaves with targeted guidance and a place in a later session.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in South Dakota by County

For the complete list, see lifeguard training in South Dakota.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Davison County

$195 27.5 hours overall, combining self-paced online work with one in-person session. Certification runs two years.

Enroll now, $195

Delivery and scheduling sit with American Aquatics & Safety Training, our training partner.

Lifeguard classes in Davison County: what to expect

Classes in Davison County all run blended: coursework online first, then a single in-person session where you are assessed in the water. Certification in Davison County follows once the rescue, CPR/AED and First Aid components are passed, 27.5 hours in total.

The format of a lifeguard course in Davison County

Expect self-paced online study on scanning, rescue theory and emergency planning, then one practical day working entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management in the pool.

Entry requirements for lifeguard courses in Davison County

Lifeguard courses in Davison County require candidates to be at least 15 by the last day of class and to complete the swim test. Those who become a lifeguard in Davison County typically work at municipal pools, waterparks, campus aquatic centers and waterfronts across South Dakota.

Cost of lifeguard certification in Davison County

$195 is the price in Davison County, inclusive of online modules, the skills assessment in person, and two years of certification. Davison County runs classes throughout the year.

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Last updated September 20, 2026

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