More than 300 junior lifeguards ages 14 to 17 gathered at Santa Clara Point Recreation Center in Mission Beach on Aug. 4 to be certified in lifesaving CPR and receive training and testing on other water-related skills needed to become full-fledged lifeguards.

“The Junior Lifeguard Program is a meaningful and fun opportunity for youth,” said San Diego Fire Department Lifeguard Chief James Gartland. “Many of the participants return year after year and often become professional lifeguards. They have a great time with our lifeguards at the beach and learn so many valuable skills, including how to help someone who suffers sudden cardiac arrest.”

The Junior Lifeguard Program offers kids ages 7 to 17 the opportunity to learn from professional lifeguards. There are two, four-week aquatic education sessions offered each summer. Junior lifeguards learn how to enjoy the beach safely, basic first aid, CPR, water rescue techniques, and beach area familiarity.

The skills they learn in this program stay with them throughout their lives. Often, former junior lifeguards will become seasonal lifeguards and ultimately professional lifeguards with SDFD or other agencies.

Some of the aspiring lifeguards were in the CPR classroom on Aug. 4, while others were out on the water in both the bay and the ocean learning and being tested on the lifesaving skills they may need later on.

“Every other year, we certify our oldest age group, 14 to 17-year-olds, so that kids going into high school, or already in high school, get certified in CPR,” said Heather Rabe Worms, program manager, San Diego Junior Lifeguard Program. “It’s a two-year certification, so it expires every other year, which is why we do it every other summer. The goal is that we keep the kids coming to our program when they’re 14 or 15 so they get the CPR.”

Rabe Worms noted that the Junior Lifeguard Program is like a prep school for the occupation. “All of our instructors are oceanfront lifeguards,” she said while noting that “not all our lifeguards went through the junior lifeguard program. But if you look through the lifeguard services, you will see we have a sergeant who was a junior guard here. And it is not just our program. We have junior guards now in other parts of the state or country.”

Graham Allen of PB was one of many aspiring lifeguards being trained in CPR.

“It’s super fun, a great experience,” said Allen of the training adding the program has grown over time. “They (classes) used to be super small, but now they’re super full. It has grown for sure. I’m seeing people I haven’t seen before.”

Asked why he was participating, Allen responded, “I’m here just to help out, learn CPR, and have a great time.”

Why does Allen want to be a lifeguard? “It seems like a super fun job and you get to help people out and be part of the community,” he responded adding, “Here we do one day of CPR classroom instruction, then we do a test. It’s been super fun to learn, and it’s not super difficult. For sure, it is a great skill to have.”

Of the instruction being offered, Rabe Worms said: “The biggest thing we are trying to teach is life and water skills, ocean safety with respect to the ocean environment. We are trying to get these kids actually interested in trying to become lifeguards.”

Added Rabe Worms: “This is the big recruiting tool for the lifeguard services, our junior guard program. Many of our lifeguards working our beach today have been junior lifeguards at some point.”