Lifeguard training is generally a pre-requisite to water safety instructor training. I would be cautious around someone who does not have any training.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs! I was able to ask and the instructor is not lifeguard certified. Thank you for raising this question. This is a hobby of the instructor to teach lessons as she is someone who has been swimming since childhood.

No and no -- they can be a great teacher but if something went wrong, they might not know what to do since they aren't trained. Our pool all of the swim coaches and teachers have life guard certifications even if they have never and will never work as a life guard.

Thank you PPs! I was able to ask and the instructor is not lifeguard certified. Thank you for raising this question. This is a hobby of the instructor to teach lessons as she is someone who has been swimming since childhood.

All instructors at our pool are lifeguard certified.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the instructor a certified lifeguard?

This would be my first question. At every place my kids ever took lessons, the instructors had to be lifeguard certified. There were never separate lifeguards on deck.

I haven’t ever seen a place for lessons without a lifeguard. Ever.

Every backyard pool?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the instructor a certified lifeguard?

This would be my first question. At every place my kids ever took lessons, the instructors had to be lifeguard certified. There were never separate lifeguards on deck.

I haven’t ever seen a place for lessons without a lifeguard. Ever.

Anonymous wrote:Is the instructor a certified lifeguard?

This would be my first question. At every place my kids ever took lessons, the instructors had to be lifeguard certified. There were never separate lifeguards on deck.

Is the instructor a certified lifeguard?

Anonymous wrote:Would you be cautious about lessons taught at a pool not staffed with a lifeguard?

Some of my anxiety may be stories like Izzy Scott’s terrible drowning in Georgia not long ago but is it safe to let your child attend lessons at a pool with an instructor without a lifeguard present?

That class was a 10:1 ratio in a private pool and it sounds like the parents weren't allowed to watch. Absolutely not. We did private 2:1 lessons at a friend's pool. The instructor was in the pool with them the whole time and the other mom and I were watching from 5 ft away. I wouldn't be comfortable with any more than that.

Anonymous wrote:How many people in the group? Is the instructor in the water?

One on one class, that seems safe. Ten non swimmers in the class, that’s not safe.

This. I would have zero issues if it was 1:1 or if a small group with older experienced swimmers.

How many people in the group? Is the instructor in the water?

One on one class, that seems safe. Ten non swimmers in the class, that’s not safe.

Would you be cautious about lessons taught at a pool not staffed with a lifeguard?

Some of my anxiety may be stories like Izzy Scott’s terrible drowning in Georgia not long ago but is it safe to let your child attend lessons at a pool with an instructor without a lifeguard present?