Pool rescue

Pool Lifeguard

(Royal Lifesaving Society – RLSS Swimming Teachers Association – STA)

The Pool Lifeguard qualification is designed to deliver candidates the appropriate training to become lifeguards in a pool environment, to enable the candidates to be competent and confident in the delivery of first aid, (Such as wound management and CPR techniques for adult, child and baby) and dealing with poolside emergencies in accordance with the National Occupational Standards and sections 140 – 185 of Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools and British Standard BS EN 15288 Part 2, Safety Requirements for Operations.

In order to complete this course candidates must reach the following Pre-Requisites:

  • Be 16 years of age or older
  • Be able to swim 100 metres on the front and 100 metres on the back without stopping
  • Be able to swim 50 metres in under 1 minute
  • Be able to surface dive and recover an object from the deepest part of the pool

Units Covered:

  • How to prepare and maintain a safe/healthy pool environment for customers
  • Demonstrate how to carry out pool emergency procedures
  • Demonstrate and explain how to observe activities carefully whilst continuously supervising the pool
  • The importance of not getting distracted whilst giving customers information or help
  • Demonstrate the ability to maintain pool safely at all times
  • How to identify and deal with potential hazards promptly and safely whilst supervising a pool
  • Effective communication with customers and colleagues
  • Understand Pool Safety Operating Procedures
  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a pool responder and first aider
  • Demonstrate basic first aid procedures for injuries sustained in an and around a pool environment
  • Understanding the differences casualties and their rescues
  • Being able to respond to simulated pool emergencies
  • Understanding the important of recording, reporting and analysing pool emergency and first aid situations

Mandatory Units

  • Understand How to Prepare and Maintain a Healthy and Safe Pool Environment
  • Understand How to Supervise Pool Activities
  • Carry Out Pool Lifeguard Emergency and First Aid Procedures

This course is run over 34 hour standard hours, with the opportunity of extra units such as:

  • Spinal Module
  • FAW (First Aid @ Work)
  • EFAW (Emergency First Aid @ Work)
  • AED (Automated External Defribrillator)

Safety Award for Teachers

This 6 hour qualifications will ensure  that the candidate is capable in pool rescue, first aid, adult, child and infant CPR. Candidates will be competent to deal with poolside emergencies in accordance with the HSE publication

Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools and British Standard BS EN 15288 Part 2, Safety Requirements for Operations.

In order to complete this course candidates must reach the following Pre-Requisites:

  • Be 14 years of age or older
  • Be able to swim 25 metres (candidates who cannot swim 25 metres must be capable of wading, and effecting a rescue, in a pool with a depth no greater than chest height)
  • Be able to surface dive and recover an object from the deepest part of the pool

Units Covered:

  • Understanding the Pool Safety Operating Procedures (PSOPs)
  • Being able to administer basic life support in a swimming pool environment
  • Knowing how and being able to administer first aid in a swimming pool environment
  • Being able to perform basic rescue skills in a swimming pool environment
  • Knowing how to respond to a swimming pool emergency situation
  • Understanding the importance of recording, reporting and analysing swimming pool emergency situations

Emergency Pool Responder

The Pool Responder qualification is designed to train candidates in pool rescue, CPR techniques and first aid competencies in order to deal with poolside emergencies in accordance with the National Occupational Standards and the HSE publication Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools and British Standard BS EN 15288 Part 2, Safety Requirements for Operations.

In order to complete this course candidates must reach the following Pre-Requisites:

  • Be 16 years of age or older
  • Be able to surface dive and recover an object from the deepest part of the pool

Units Covered: (14 guided hours)

  • Understanding the Pool Safety Operating Procedures
  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a pool responder and first aider
  • Knowing how to assess an incident
  • Knowing how to administer basic life support in a swimming pool environment
  • Being able to manage unresponsive casualties who are breathing normally and not normally
  • Being able to assist a casualty who is choking
  • Understanding basic first aid procedures
  • Being able to perform basic rescue skills, and manage a wounded and bleeding casualty
  • Knowing how to respond to a pool emergency situation and simulated pool emergencies
  • Understanding the differences in dealing with different kinds of casualties
  • Understanding recording, reporting and analysing pool emergency and first aid situations