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.
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.