Brief history of Lifeguarding:

1785—Massachusetts Human Society founded the Lifesaving Service.
1878—Secretary of Treasury formed the United Stated Lifesaving Service.
1897—First rescue float equipment developed by Captain Harry Sheffield.
1908—British Lifesaving Service established in Ontario, Canada.
1911—Boy Scouts of America (BSA) established Swimming and Lifesaving Merit Badges.
1912—George E. Goss completed the first systematic study of lifesaving in the United States.

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) developed the National Lifesaving Service.
1914—Commodore Longfellow established the LifeSaving Service of the American Red Cross.

American Red Cross developed the Senior Life Saving program.
1919—Anerican Red Cross developed the Junior Life Saving program.
1938—BSA developed the Safe Swim Defense Plan.

BSA established the National Aquatic School Lifeguard program.
1951—Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics formed.
1966—National Surf Lifesaving Association formed.
1973—American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance established the Aquatics Council.
1974—American Red Cross developed the Advanced Lifesaving Program.
1979—United States Lifesaving Association formed.

YMCA developed the Aquatic Safety and Lifesaving program.
1980—World Waterpark Association formed.
1983—American Red Cross established the Lifeguard Training Program.

Ellis & Associates established the National Pool & Waterpark Lifeguard Training program.
1988—American Red Cross developed Lifeguard course.

National Recreation and Park Association established the National Aquatic Section.
1990-1994—American Red Cross revised the Lifeguard Training program.