The American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps is a non-profit organization made up of volunteer lifeguards. It is a division of the American Red Cross, which provides volunteer lifeguards to Jacksonville beaches and internationally through Lifeguards Without Borders.
History
In the summer of 1912, Lyman G. Haskell, a medical doctor in Jacksonville who also worked as the Physical Director of the YMCA, and Clarence H. MacDonald, Playground Director for the City of Jacksonville, conceptualized and founded the United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps at what was then called Pablo Beach, Florida. These men became the first Medical Officer and Captain, respectively. In 1914, the seventeen charter members of the Corps became part of the American Red Cross’s national water safety program as the American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps, Coast Guard Division #1.
Today
The ARCVLSC volunteer ranks include more than 120 active members and hundreds of alumni of the Corps. In its 106 years of service, members of the Corps have recorded 1,430 lifesaving rescues, 1,753 assists to swimmers in distress, and more than 25,000 first aid cases ranging from jellyfish stings to broken limbs. This service to the community has been accomplished through almost 1,300,000 hours of volunteer service by the 4,000 members and alumni of the Volunteer Life Saving Corps. But 102 years after its founding, the Jacksonville Beach volunteer corps is the last of its kind in the country. The American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps Station is listed in the National Register of Historic Places Program.
Recruiting
The American Red Cross Volunteers Lifesaving Corps consists of an outstanding group of lifeguards who prove their abilities through vigorous training. To become an American Red Cross lifeguard, one has to be able to complete a 550 meter swim in under 10 minutes as well as a 1/2 mile run in under 4 minutes. Recruits must complete an 8-12 week long course that is held in both the winter and summer months. The class meets every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Sundays are grueling where recruits start their day at 8 a.m. at the pool to do the 550 meter swim along with rescues, and end the day with the training committee around 7. Tuesdays are surrounded by learning material then attending a 2 hour meeting of the general membership and staff. Thursdays focus on learning and some physical activities, but these days are rare and when done short. Throughout this course, recruits will time their run and swim and learn four rescue mechanisms that are crucial for ocean rescue. Along with the physical aspect of lifeguard training, the classes provide information and materials to learn first responder procedures in case of emergency. The class also teaches recruits about the history and upbringing of this lifesaving organization. This way they learn to value the organization and partake in the 100-year-old traditions of former members. Learning this new information can be challenging and especially the physical aspects of the class that is why recruits have mentors, they work together in their free time on weaknesses the recruit has. This helps teach the recruit that teamwork is the only way to get into the organization, not just from their classmates but from their soon to be coworkers. After weeks of training the last standing recruits must pass the final tests which are: pool test, black ball, and Posch run. A select few that pass their physical and practical exams in the given number of weeks, become lifeguards and graduate from their class. This results in CPR, EMR, and First Responder certifications. Which allows them to become apart of Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue where lifeguarding can be a full-time job. The recruit class is an important feature of the American Red Cross Volunteer Lifesaving Corps, and will remain for years to come.
