MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Interested in becoming a lifeguard? The annual lifeguard certification course held by Marquette’s fire department is a chance to become one or be recertified.
The program starts April 26 to May 1, however the application is due by April 12. The fire department has been in charge of this program for 10 years and hopes to be able to continue it into future years.
The fire chief shared the small concern of having to cancel the program due to lack of participants. The program needs at least 10 students to make all the money the fire department puts into it worth the time.
The fire department also needs at least 10 lifeguards per beach. At minimum, they can at least cover McCarty’s Cove, which is all they have been able to get the past four years, but the fire department is hoping to cover more beaches.
“It’s a great job obviously with us for the summer, with this class through you can work year-round because it also works for, pools we do teach open water, because of our beaches but it covers any type of lifeguarding,” said Fire Chief Ian Davis.
In this course, as stated, prepared for multi-lifeguarding jobs both indoors and outdoors. The instructor teaches the students everything from learning how to rescue someone using the backboard, to how to stabilize a neck. They also teach how to perform CPR and certify for that, as well as how to use the AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
If you have already gone through all these lessons but still need to be re-certified, you can sign up for that portion which is only have the classes. If you are interested or would like to sign up for classes register and/or receive application information, contact Jen Jakubowski at the Marquette City Fire Department at 906-225-8596 or jjakubowski@marquettemi.gov.
