Lifesaving and Life Support

• Rookie Lifeguard • Junior Lifesaving
  Junior programmes offer awards for 8-13* (See Child Protection Policy). The programmes cover water safety, self-rescue, rescue and emergency response. The awards allow students to pace themselves, gain badges and certificates and progress through the various programmes.
  
  
• Lifesaving 1, 2 and 3
  These awards introduce the basic skills for lifesaving and is good preparation for those considering Bronze Medallion.
  These awards also cover the GCSE Swimming requirements for PE as well as the Bronze level for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme
  
  
• Assistant Beach Lifeguard 12 yrs+
  This award is for those that wish to develop beach lifeguard skills and offers introductory training (This is NOT a lifeguard qualification)
  
  
• Bronze Medallion
  Recognised as the flagship award for lifesaving. Assists in developing fitness, knowledge, skill and judgement. The candidate pack contains all the resources for the Bronze Medallion and Lifesupport training.
  The successful candidate receives a medallion and certificate
  
  
• Award of Merit
  This is a progression from the Bronze Medallion and requires a proficient level of knowledge, understanding and practical ability.
  The successful candidate receives a medallion and certificate
  
  
• Distinction
  This is a progression from Award of Merit and requires an excellent level of knowledge, understanding and practical ability.
  The successful candidate receives a woven badge and certificate
  

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  Downloads Syllabii
  
  
• Life Support
  The aim is to establish a competent level of knowledge and skills to administer Lifesupport including the diagnosis and treatment of choking, bleeding as well as cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  
  
• Life Support 3
  The aim is to establish excellent levels of knowledge and skills to administer Lifesupport to casualties of all ages and in a variety of situations. Includes the diagnosis and treatment of choking, bleeding, shock, drowning and hypothermia. This is the highest level of lifesupport accreditation.
  The successful candidate receives a woven badge and certificate
  

Community Programmes

• Save a Baby’s Life
  This is an attendance course for carers of infants and covers what to do in an emergency situation that involves choking, drowning or cessation of breathing in babies up to 12 months. Courses available throughout the UK.
  
  
• Community Life Support
  This short programme trains members of the community in the practical application of Basic Life Support, caring for an unconscious casualty and basic first aid through attendance and participation on a familiarisation seminar
  
  
• Cricket Coaches
  A Life Support training programme developed for the English and Welsh Cricket Board for the elements within the Cricket Coaches Level II Certificate
  The successful candidate receives a certificate

Specialist Vocational Programmes

• Police Lifesaving
  Specialist training for serving police officers in water safety, life support and water rescue as they apply to their normal duties.
  

  For further information about specialist lifesaving training for the emergency services please contact adrianlole@rlss.org.uk
  

• Lifeguard Resuscitation Programme (Oxygen Therapy and Defibrillation)
  AED (Automated Emergency Defibrillator) training can be provided in the workplace and to First Responder Teams in the community where ambulance access may be delayed. For further details contact River House.
  
  

  Oxygen Therapy This award can be undertaken by lifeguards holding a current RLSS UK National Pool or Beach Lifeguard Qualification.

• Diploma
  requires a successful submission of a comprehensive project, this award acknowledges an individuals extensive level of service, knowledge and expertise. It is the highest award of the Society. Application details are available only from Commonwealth Office at River House.
  

• The National Pool (or Beach) Lifeguard Qualification is the UK’s leading Lifeguarding qualification, recognised by the Department for Education and Skills and the Worldwide Governing Body, The International Lifesaving Federation (ILS).
  A Lifeguard qualification can be achieved as a first step towards a job in the Leisure Industry. It is also accepted outside of the UK for those of you wishing to work temporarily in America, Australia and New Zealand.
  Visit (click here)
  
  
• National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches
  Endorsed by the DfES, the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management and the Amateur Swimming Association this course teaches practical lifesaving skills that may be needed by anyone teaching or coaching swimming or other programmed activity in a pool.
  
  
• Rescue Test for Supervisors of Swimmers with Disabilities
  Designed specifically for those lifeguards, helpers, coaches and teachers responsible for supervising a swimming pool session for swimmers with disabilities
  
  
• Emergency Response - Activity Supervisors
  Designed for those supervising programmed activities at open water locations including Canoe instructors, sailing instructors and Outward Bound Leaders.
  
  
• Emergency Response - Open Water
  Working safely near water – a training programme, covering the basic skills of land based rescues and the use of rescue aids. It is designed for those working within or near a watery location where they may be called upon to carry out a rescue and can be given training suitable for their working environment. Ideal for Park keepers, gardeners, water bailiffs, marina workers and port authority workers.
  
  
• Emergency Response - Swimming Pool
  This programme provides a certificate in water rescue competence for staff working in a facility where there is a swimming pool but no direct pool side supervision. It is also useful for ancillary staff.
  

Open Water Rescue

• The National Pool Beach Lifeguard Qualification is the UK’s leading Lifeguarding qualification, recognised by the Department for Education and Skills and the Worldwide Governing Body.
  The International Lifesaving Federation (ILS).
  A Lifeguard qualification can be achieved as a first step towards a job in the Leisure Industry. It is also accepted outside of the UK for those of you wishing to work temporarily in America, Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
• Emergency Response - Activity Supervisors Designed for those supervising programmed activities at open water locations including Canoe instructors, sailing instructors and Outward Bound Leaders.
  
  
• Emergency Response - Open Water
  Working safely near water – a training programme, covering the basic skills of land based rescues and the use of rescue aids. It is designed for those working within or near a watery location where they may be called upon to carry out a rescue and can be given training suitable for their working environment. Ideal for Park keepers, gardeners, water bailiffs, marina workers and port authority workers.
  
  
• British Waterways Water Safety Training
  Specialist training for British Waterways employees in water safety and water rescue as they apply to their normal duties.
  
  
• Lifesaving - Bronze Cross
  The first of the senior open water awards. Designed to develop fitness, skill, judgement and knowledge specific to open water rescue. The minimum age is 14 years. This award requires the candidate to hold or have held a Bronze Medallion and hold a current Life Support Award.
  
  
• Lifesaving - Silver Cross
  Designed to establish proficient levels of ability in open water rescue. This award is a pre-requisite for Distinction.
  The successful candidate receives an engraved cross and a woven badge
  
  
• Rescue Boat Helm and Crew
  These awards can be undertaken by lifeguards holding a current RLSS UK National Beach Lifeguard Qualification or its equivalent. Includes the training and assessment to become a rescue boat helmsman or crewman.
  
  
• Assistant Beach Lifesaver 12 yrs+
  This award is for those that wish to develop beach lifeguard skills and offers introductory training (This is NOT a lifeguard qualification)
  
  
  

Training and Assessing

• Assistant Teacher 14yrs+
  This qualification is an introduction to the Trainer Assessor qualification.
   The successful candidate can request a certificate upon completion

• Rookie Instructor 16yrs+
  
  
• Trainer Assessor (Lifesaving or Lifeguarding) 18yrs+
  
  
• Mentor • Adviser (Lifesaving)
  
  
• National Training Assessor (Lifesaving or Lifeguarding)
  
  

Technical Downloads

Lifesaving Downloads

Tech Flowchart on how to be a Trainer Assessor (TA)