First Aid & CPR Certification
All of Roughing It’s staff (with the exception of some support staff) must have current certifications in First Aid and CPR. These certifications must be obtained or renewed before beginning work at Roughing It, and must stay current through the duration of employment with Roughing It.
Certification must include:
- CPR & 1st Aid (not just CPR)
- Child (pediatric) CPR training
- CPR ventilation training (no “hands only” classes)
A copy of your certifications must be submitted to Roughing It prior to beginning work. We cannot accept copies of expired or invalid certifications.
Lifeguard Training and Certification
All swim and waterfront staff must have a current lifeguard certification before beginning work at Roughing It and certifications must stay current through your duration of employment.
Lifeguard certification must:
- Include lifeguard, CPR & 1st Aid training. CPR/1st Aid is almost always included in lifeguard certifications.
- Include both deep and shallow water training (e.g., avoid “shallow only” classes less than 7 ft deep)
- If taking an online course, it must be paired with an in-person class for demonstration and verification of skills
- Be from a nationally recognized certifying body. We recommend American Red Cross or Ellis & Associates. Please check with us before enrolling in a course from another certifying body, so we can ensure it will be valid.
ARC (American Red Cross) certifications are usually valid for 2 years. Ellis & Associates certifications are valid for 1 year.
Be sure you sign up for the right lifeguard class. “Lifeguard Training” runs 4-5 days and is for people who don’t have a current, valid lifeguard certification. “Lifeguard Training Review” is a shorter, re-certification class (usually 2 days) and you MUST be currently certified at the time you take the review.
We recommend signing up for a lifeguard class early! Lifeguard courses are in high demand and many fill up by mid spring.
Copies and/or verification of your current and valid certifications must be submitted to Roughing It prior to beginning work. We cannot accept copies of lifeguard certification that have expired.
Where Can I Obtain Certification?
Below are organizations located in the Bay Area that offer First Aid/CPR & Lifeguard courses.
General Resources
| American Red Cross | National Website | CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| Bay Area Public Pool Operators | Website | Lifeguard |
Alameda County
| Safety Training Seminars | 2076 University Ave. Suite B Berkeley, CA 94704 Phone: (510) 225-6216 Website |
CPR/1st Aid |
| YMCA Berkeley | Website | CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| YMCA Oakland | Website | CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| UC Berkeley | UC Berkeley Campus Phone: (510) 643-8038 CPR/1st aid classes Lifeguard classes |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| Lifesavers | 331 Laguna Vista Alameda, CA 94501 510-521-4946 Website |
CPR/1st Aid |
San Francisco
| Safety Training Seminars | 598 Vermont Street (18th St) San Francisco, CA 94107 Phone: (415) 437-1600 Website |
CPR/1st Aid |
| Lifesaver CPR | 2121 South El Camino Real Suite #C200 San Mateo, 94403 Website |
CPR/1st Aid |
Contra Costa County
| City of Concord, Leisure Services | Concord Leisure Services 1950 Parkside Drive, MS/10 Concord, CA 94519-2578 Phone: (925) 671-3404 Fax: (925) 671-3449 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| City of Walnut Creek, Recreation Division | Walnut Creek Recreation Division PO Box 8039 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 943-5856 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| Soda Aquatic Center (Moraga) | Campolindo High School 300 Moraga Rd. Moraga, CA 94556 Phone: (925) 376-6597 Website |
Lifeguard |
| City of Orinda, Community Center | Orinda Community Center 26 Orinda Way PO Box 2000 Orinda, CA 94563 Phone: (925) 254-2445 Website |
CPR |
| City of San Ramon, Parks and Community Services | San Ramon Parks and Community Services P.O. Box 5148 San Ramon, CA 94538 Phone: (925) 973-3200 Fax: (925) 830-5162 Website |
Lifeguard |
| Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District | Pleasant Hill Community Center 320 Civic Drive Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925)676-5200 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| YMCA- Irvin Deutscher | 350 Civic Drive Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (925) 687-8900 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| YMCA – Hilltop Family | Pinole Swim Center 2450 Simas Ave. Pinole, CA 94564 Phone: (510) 724-9025 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |
| Safety Training Seminars | 785 Oak Grove Rd. Suite U Concord, CA 94518 Phone: (925) 6919780- Website |
CPR/1st Aid |
| City of Antioch, Recreation Department | Antioch Water Park 4071 Lone Tree Way Antioch, CA 94531 Phone: (925) 776-3070 Fax: (925) 776-3078 Website |
CPR/1st Aid Lifeguard |