National Lifeguards are highly skilled and trained individuals. To become a lifeguard you must be 16 years of age and have Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid certifications. See the chart for the progression.
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Guidelines for cardiac arrest victims recommend immediate CPR and defibrillation within 5 minutes to ensure the best chance of survival. In major Canadian centres, defibrillators arrive approximately 9 minutes after the call to 911 according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
