You can become lifeguard certified through the Red Cross.  They offer the course at the Two Rivers YMCA in Moline.  The Red Cross requires participants to be at least 15 years old on or before the last day of class and pass course specific swimming prerequisites prior to the start of training.  The prerequisite swimming skills evaluation consists of swimming, treading water, and a timed swimming event.   The first prerequisite is to jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.  Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only your legs.  Then swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breastroke or a combination of both.  The second prerequisite is a timed event to be completed within 1 minute and 40 seconds.  You start in the water and swim 20 yards and surface dive to a depth of 7 – 10 feet to retrieve a 10 pound object.  Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.  Then exit the water using a ladder or steps.  After successfully completing the prerequisite swimming skills evaluation you will then alternate between classroom and water as you learn and practice lifeguarding and First Aid/CPR/AED skills.  Course length is 28 hrs. in person and 6 hrs. online.  The cost of the course is 380.00