National Pool Lifeguard Qualification At Perth Leisure Pool - Jul 2017
Why do pools have lifeguards?
To enable people to swim in a safe, friendly and fun environment. Lifeguards in attendance and supervising at swimming pools mean that drownings in the UK and Ireland are low. However, effective lifeguards are essential as one drowning is one too many.
Swimming is one of the most popular leisure activities enjoyed by millions of people each year, of all age groups, swimming abilities and in different pool activities. Lifeguards are essential to the safe supervision of these pool users.
In the UK and Ireland, lifeguards provide a vital role by observing, supervising and educating pool users, and on occasion are prepared to carry out a rescue.
Lifeguards help the pool operator meet their duty of care, comply with industry guidance and the law.
What do lifeguards do?
Working as a lifeguard is a rewarding and enjoyable job. You get the opportunity to work in a team within a swimming pool environment, with a wide range of people, personalities and public making the job interesting.
An important part of a lifeguard’s role is to intervene and prevent accidents. Your rescue skills may not be called upon for some time and hopefully not at all if the pool is well run and the lifeguards are diligent. However, not all accidents and medical emergencies can be prevented and that is when your lifesaving skills will be put into action. In addition to your supervision duties, building presentation and customer service will form much of your role during your shifts and you may also be involved with: customer enquiries, setting up and taking down equipment throughout the facility, cleaning, teaching and coaching.
Be prepared to work hard in maintaining high standards of cleanliness in and around the swimming pool environment. It is important that customers have a good experience of their visit and keep returning. Think how swimmers and families would feel getting changed in dirty changing areas. Would you want to swimming pool and use dirty facilities?
Attributes of a lifeguard - Strong communicator, excellent team player, able to lead, anticipate problems, extremely observant, quick thinker, able to stay calm, good with people and have a positive attitude.
How to book and pay
To apply for a course please complete the training application form and return to our training contacts. The form is available on the Development home page.
Essential Information
A lifeguard must be fit and healthy so the course will have certain physical demands, therefore candidates must be able to meet the following pre requisites before attending the course. If you are unsure if you can meet these standards please contact your local pool and they will arrange a pool test for you.
· Jump or dive into a pool in deep water (where available)
· Swim 50 meters in 1 minute or less
· Swim 100 meters continuously on the front and then the back
· Tread water in deep water for 30 seconds
· Climb out of the pool unaided, without using steps or a ladder
· Surface dive to the deepest part of the pool
100% attendance required to complete 36 hours needed to be presented for assessment. Candidates must pass continuous assessment by the trainer throughout the course to be eligible for the end of course assessment. Assessment completed by an external independent assessor sampling elements across the whole syllabus.
An assessment takes place at the end of a training course. It determines a candidate's knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a pool lifeguard and of his or her ability in a range of lifesaving skills as they relate to rescue in a range of common emergency situations that could occur in any pool. The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification is awarded upon successful completion of the course and assessment and is valid for a period of 2 years.
Age restrictions
Candidates must be 16 years old at the time of the course assessment.