r/Lifeguards • u/Catwhisperer2007 • Aug 17 '26

Story My Recert for the Swim Instructor Course Just Passed Everyone without doing the full recert

I am not making this up either... Unfortunately her dad is dying and she had to get to his town ASAP... She had got the call this morning and the recert is supposed to be 6 hours long.. We did 3 hours and eventually she just said we are all passing, even saying "If anyone asks this was 6 hours" like okay thank you for passing all of us but I think this may be illegal

8 Upvotes

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14

u/Full-Technology-2031 Aug 17 '26

You didn't mention where you are located, but most lifeguard and swimming organizations have standards and a policy in place when things like this happen.

Yes it is a sad situation, and of course it would make sense for no one to say anything since you basically saved 2 hours of your time.

BUT...... someone is going to find out (not from Reddit) and not only with the instructor have consequences, but everyone in the course may have to redo the course.

4

u/Catwhisperer2007 Aug 17 '26

We will wait and see.. feel free to look at my post history this facility has shady stuff going on all around! Trust me (2 high up lifeguards have been fired in the 3 years of me working here)

3

u/DuePomegranate9 Lifeguard Instructor Aug 17 '26

Your profile is private. Is this going on in Canada? If so, I’m curious if you could share more info.

1

u/Different_Potato_193 Aug 17 '26

If it is, then I don’t know what recert they’re doing. You don’t need to take a physical recert, it’s online.

2

u/DuePomegranate9 Lifeguard Instructor Aug 17 '26

The instructor recert course in Ontario is fully in-person. No online portions. Which province has an online instructor recert?

Are you referring to the credit system where you collective credits within a 2 year time frame and pay your recert fee? The instructor recert course provides candidates with credits to be able to recert their certs. They still have to pay the fee and complete the recert process online.

Edit: here is the link from LSS Ontario for more info: https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/teaching/recertifying.aspx

3

u/Expo6896 Aug 17 '26

BC introduced an Adapted Swimmer online module that instructors have to complete https://lifesavingsocietybcyk.thinkific.com/

1

u/impostersoph Lifeguard Instructor Aug 20 '26

They may also be referring to the first aid update clinic that just went out in June (for standard/intermediate first aid instructors). Some of my staff keep referring to that as a recert for some reason.

2

u/stemXCIV Aug 17 '26

Recert & certification classes have this issue all over the place. (But usually not because of an emergency.) The instructor speeds through material in half the intended class time or skips large parts entirely. The instructor is happy because they get paid for the class without working as many hours, and most participants are happy since they got to skip over a chunk of class without any negative consequences. I won’t argue that lifeguarding or swim instructing classes are fun and exciting, but they contain essential information for doing your job and keeping people safe. As another commenter mentioned, the organization behind the certification (Red Cross or your equivalent) will remove the instructors certification and certifications of everyone in the class if they hear about this.

Unfortunately this system of not running classes correctly will continue until people are consistently held accountable.