Lifeguard Certification

Chris G, CPR and Lifeguard Instructors, Ultra Runner and Lighting Guru

San Francisco Bay Area

Chris Gregory has worked in the Pre-Hospital Healthcare field for almost 7 years now, from getting his Rescue Diver certification from PADI, to his EMT license. Chris currently works as an EMT, having previously worked as a Fire Fighter, and teaches CPR, EMT skills, and Life Guarding. When not working, Chris can be found running, in a handstand, or studying for the MCAT Exam, which will push him one step closer to his dream of becoming an Emergency room physician!

Serving: Alameda, Oakland, San Leandro, Richmond, San Francisco

Fiona Kg, Lifeguard Instructor (LGI), Weird Fact Lover, World Traveler, Music Lover, and Graduate Student

North San Francisco

Hello everyone! My name is Fiona. I’ve worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor since 2015 with the University of California San Francisco Fitness and Recreation, as well as with the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco since 2019. After reopening, due to the global pandemic, I became a Lead guard at UCSF and wanted to further my knowledge of aquatics departments as a whole as well as to help with the national lifeguard shortage. I would love to pass on all my tips and tricks about lifeguarding to all the new staff that I work with as well as to those who I hope to teach in the future. I am excited to see what kind of new experiences I’ll have been a lifeguard instructor!

mysticseaswimmer@gmail.com

Jenn Tyler, Past President of the Company, LGI, Lifeguard, Swim Instructor

Company founder, past CEO, with 30 years lifeguard, lifeguard instructor, and swim teaching experience

Living on Kaua’i island, Hawai’i most of the year, and traveling to Australia, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, and Denver regularly to lead Lifeguard Courses and CPR training, Jenn was the director of Happy Swimmers for over 32 years. It is a passion of mine to assist in the empowerment of children learning how to swim in a medium once considered a fearful, uncertain place, magically turned into a supportive, fun environment to be explored with friends. The same goes for lifeguarding and training new lifeguards–there is no greater inner joy either in saving someone’s life as a lifeguard, or teaching others how to perform lifesaving skills. It is an honor for me to watch my students grow–where once there was doubt or panic, now there is strength and confidence.

Thank you for looking to become a Happy Swimmer!

–Jenn Tyler, past owner, and founder

Kevin Frank, Lifeguard Instructor, Lifeguard for Hire

Orlando, 15 years experience!

I began life-guarding when I was just 15 years old. Since then, I have worked for my community, college and even Aquatica as a full time lifeguard for almost 5 years. Now, I am a middle school teacher with a family and a young child.

Home base areas I serve: Clermont, Wintergarden, Dr. Phillips, Windermere  and all of greater Orlando.

Kimberly Lytle

Kimberly Lytle, Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, LGI Trainer & Professional Shark Handler

Kissimmee, FL, 48 years experience!

I have been a swim instructor for 48 years. I was recognized as the Baltimore Regional Chapter Water Safety Aide of the Year. I am certified as an adapted aquatics instructor, Dan Marino Foundation Adapted Aquatics Instructor, and Human Kinetics Adapted Aquatics Instructor. I am the recipient of the Autism Speaks grant to provide free swim lessons to autistic children. Currently I am certified as a Water Safety Instructor Trainer where I have taught individuals to be swim instructors. I started one of the early baby swim programs in the United States in order to teach babies to swim float swim. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the State of Florida to approve new aquatic programs. I love all levels of instruction.

I have been a lifeguard, waterfront and waterpark lifeguard for 48 years. I am currently certified as a Lifeguard Instructor and Instructor Trainer with the American Red Cross. I have taught swimming for the same amount of time and am a Water Safety Instructor and Instructor Trainer. I audit waterparks and municipal facilities evaluating lifeguard and facility standards. I have received several certifications to teacher adapted aquatics and have received a grant from Autism Speaks to provide free swim lessons. I hold a master’s degree in education, was Teacher of the Year for my middle school and Top Ten Educator in the District. I was recognized as the American Red Cross Water Safety aide of the Year and then later the American Red Cross Instructor Volunteer of the Year. I served for ten years at the National Aquatic Safety School in Texas as an Instructor Trainer. As a Special Olympics Tier 2 Swim Coach I am eligible to take teams to national competitions. I am certified as a National Water Fitness Instructor and trained Total Immersion. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Florida Aquatic Council overseeing the development of aquatics in the State of Florida. Also, on the Board of Directors for the State of Florida to approve new aquatic programs within the state. I am a member of Association of Aquatic Professionals, National Parks and Recreation, and World Water Park Association. I have hosted the World’s Largest Swim Lesson for 5 years achieving some of the top numbers in the world. In my spare time I am an avid scuba diver, runner, biker, and weight lifter. I compete in open water competitions with 12.5 miles being my longest distance.

Serving: Florida including Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and travel throughout the state,  also Texas, and Nationally as a Lifeguard Instructor Trainer and WSIT.

Lindsay Brecht, Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, LGI, CPR Instr,**CPR ANGEL OF LIFE AWARD**

Sunnyvale is her home

**Happy Swimmers recognizes Lifeguard Lindsay with it’s CPR ANGEL OF LIFE AWARD–Doing her important part to savea 7 year old boy…Way to go Lindsay!**

3 years swim teaching experience, including Special Needs kids.

Some Communities I serve: Sunnyvale, San Jose, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Campbell, Mountain View, Santa Clara

Swim Instructor role: What’s better than feeling free, comfortable, confident and safe in the water!?! I want to help every child or adult I teach to feel this way. My love for the water started as an infant, and my love for competing started a few years later. I swam competitively for over 10 years and once my opportunities to compete diminished, I decided to teach. I taught swim lessons at the San Ramon Olympic Pool for three years. I taught all age groups ranging from 6 months to adults. I also have experience teaching lessons to children with special needs. My love for the water goes beyond swimming on the surface. I got scuba certified at 13 and I’ve been exploring the depths of the ocean ever since.

Event Lifeguard role:As a child, I was the swimmer the lifeguards hated. Holding my breath to the very last moment, twisting and turning under water, running on the pool deck, doing the “dead man’s float.” I loved swimming and hated the lifeguards for ruining my fun. I’ve since learned that fun can still be had while following the rules. As a lifeguard, my number 1 priority is safety! Fun is a must, but it’s second to safety. I have three years of lifeguarding experience and received Recognition of First Responder and Life Saving Efforts from the City of San Ramon for my role is saving the life of a 7 year old boy.

Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) role:Teaching the lifeguarding course is like teaching a sport. There’s the physical skills aspect and the psychological understanding and awareness aspect. My goal is to teach both. I feel successful when I’m running through the end of class scenario and the student’s know how to leverage their tubes for buoyancy, when to call for help, the holds and strap sequence for a spinal, and when and how to perform CPR. They are confident with their decisions and skill. I’ve taught the lifeguard.

CPR Instructor role:I’ve performed CPR and used an AED in an emergency situation. I am always scoping out where the nearest AED is in a building and running through “what if” scenarios in my head. I know what to do in an emergency and I have taught others what to do as well. I have over 4 years experience teaching CPR, first aid and AED courses.

Mike Sweet, CPR Instructor, EMT, former Beach Lifeguard

Sherman Oaks

Ron Torbert

Ron Torbert, Lifeguard Instructor, Lifeguard

Orlando, 34 years of experience!

34 Years of Lifeguard Experience, wow!  Ron serves Greater Orlando

I have a great passion for aquatics. I was raised around the water and I am scuba certified. I have been lifeguarding since I received my Lifeguard BSA (Boy Scouts) in 1981, I was a YMCA Lifeguard and Swim Instructor. I was a Lifeguard for River Country, Grand Floridian, Yacht and Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. I am a Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor and worked for Wet N Wild and Aquatica in that capacity. I am an Ellis & Associates Lifeguard Instructor Trainer. I have 5 children ages 10-25. From 1999-2012 I competed in Triathlons including 1 IRONMAN.

Special certifications: PADI Scuba Certification, Open water, Waterpark, Waterfront

Owner comment here: Ron is Superman! Bless the work you do and have done, sir!

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