CASE STUDY
ALA Creates Lifeguard Certification Badge with Help from InstantCard
“Even during peak Springtime, in preparation for the summer swim season when daily volumes are very high, InstantCard always meets its same-day service commitment.” BJ Kaplan, Founder and CEO at American Lifeguard Association.
Summary
- The American Lifeguard Association (ALA is one of the largest lifeguard training and certification organizations in the United States.
- With lifeguards entrusted with the lives of swimmers, ALA needed a way to allow employers to verify lifeguard credentials.
- ALA turned to InstantCard to develop a system that would allow lifeguards to easily show their verified certifications to employers.
Situation
The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is one of the largest lifeguard training and certification organizations in the United States. For more than 30 years, the organization has provided water safety and rescue training throughout the US and overseas. The organization also offers continuing education courses for certified lifeguards, ensuring that they have up-to-date training and skills.
A certification from ALA ensures that the lifeguard is fully trained and qualified to safeguard the lives of swimmers at pools, beaches, waterparks, and other facilities. With lifeguards entrusted with the lives of swimmers, the ALA needed a way to allow employers to verify lifeguard credentials.
Lifeguards need to demonstrate that they are certified, and their training is up-to-date. They may also want to show employers and additional trainings they have taken through ALA.
The ALA turned to InstantCard to develop a system that would allow lifeguards to easily show their verified certifications to employers.
Solution
With a network of thousands of lifeguard training centers located across the US and abroad, ALA needed a secure and efficient way to issue proof of training. InstantCard worked with ALA to implement a lifeguard identification card program to verify the identity and credentials of certified lifeguards.
When a lifeguard completes the ALA certification training, InstantCard prints the lifeguard ID card, packaged in an ALA-branded envelope with further ALA training information and brochures, and mails it directly to their home. The ID cards are made of a highly durable, waterproof plastic, are and designed to last in wet conditions.
To allow employers to verify credentials in real time, the cards are printed with a QR code that, when scanned, securely pulls up the lifeguards up-to-date training records.
Five years ago, ALA teamed with up Global Lifeguards to introduce the ULC (Universal Lifeguard Certification) service. ULC was founded because the Lifeguarding profession needed an easier way to manage the growing number of certifications that most Lifeguards earn. This online database, also managed by InstantCard, is open to any lifeguard or instructor, and can be uploaded with certifications issued by any authorized training organization.
Results
InstantCard has worked with ALA since 2007, producing tens of thousands of lifeguard identity cards. As ALA has grown, InstantCard has offered services to serve its changing needs. When ALA adds a new organization to its network, InstantCard is able to seamlessly add it to the badging and credentialling service. These new organizations can immediately take advantage of the simple, on-demand lifeguard badging service.
“InstantCard has been an amazing partner to work with. Even during the peak Springtime, in preparation for the summer swim season when daily volumes are very high, InstantCard always meets its same-day service commitment,” said BJ Kaplan, CEO and Founder of ALA.
>15
years as a customer
>20k
badges produced