Lifesaving

We have over 20 years of experience of Water Safety Training. From delivering lifeguard courses and training to local authorities, schools and private health clubs to training competitive lifeguard teams, we aim to  ensure that all of our training is engaging and supportive so that candidates feel confident and competent to carry out their roles or help them into a new career. Accredited by the Royal Lifesaving Society, courses are strictly monitored for quality.

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification

This qualification provides an excellent starting point for a career in the leisure industry. The NPLQ is recognised around the world, so there is potential to work and travel! Being a lifeguard is a great way for students to fund studies.

It also provides opportunity for career progression as most leisure managers start as Pool Lifeguards. Gaining experience of working within a team, candidates also learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR.

Course pre-requisites
Every candidate, at the time of attending the NPLQ must be able to:

  • Jump/dive into deep water
  • Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
  • Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
  • Tread water for 30 seconds
  • Surface dive to the floor of the pool
  • Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits
  • 36 hours usually over 5 days, but the delivery model is flexible
  • Up to 12 candidates aged 16 or over

Assessment for the NPLQ takes place at the end of the course. It determines your knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a pool lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a work-related environment.

The assessment is split into three sections:

  • Practical pool assessment
  • Theory Assessment for all three sections
  • Practical First Aid & CPR assessment

National Rescue Award for Swim Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC)

NRASTC is a supervision and rescue award for swimming teachers, coaches and/or instructors working during programmed activities, such as swimming lessons. It is suitable for teachers working in a wide range of swimming pools where the water is deeper than the teachers’ standing depth and meets the Individual sites risk assessment.

  • Up to 12 Candidates aged 16 or over
  • 12 Hours plus assessment. Usually delivered over 2 days, but the delivery model ois flexible.
  • Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
  • Assessment is through oral questioning and practical assessment by an external assessor.

Emergency Response Pool Training

Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools states:
“When the pool is in use, there must be a safe system of work to identify a person in difficulty and ensure that a rescue can be performed. For example, in the absence of lifeguards, there should be designated ‘on-call’ competent staff, to respond immediately to deal with any emergency. They should be suitably trained and capable of reaching the poolside in time to perform a rescue and provide emergency first aid if the alarm is raised.” Paragraph 113 of the HSE publication.

The ER Pool Programme is a rescue award; it is designed for individuals that have a responsibility to respond to a swimming pool in the event of an emergency, either to perform a rescue or assist a lifeguard team.

The ER Pool Programme is not intended to be used in place of a lifeguard qualification, such as the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). The NPLQ includes more detailed training and content, to prepare someone to directly supervise a swimming pool.

Pre-requisites for the course:

  • Be able to swim a minimum of 25m on your front and back
  • Be able to surface dive to the deepest part of the pool and climb out without help and without using steps or ladders (where venue design permits)
  • Up to 12 Candidates aged 16 or over – these can be any employee from the facility
  • 12 hours. This is usually delivered over 2 days but the delivery model can be flexible
  • Assessment is oral questioning and practical assessment throughout the course

Ongoing training and competency testing

In order to maintain their NPLQ qualification, the following is required to be completed by candidates prior to the renewal assessment of their qualification to demonstrate their ongoing professional competence:

  • 20 hours Continued Professional Development within the last two years from the date of previous assessment covering content from the NPLQ syllabus:
  • In-water swimming pool rescue skills (at least 4 hrs)
  • CPR (at least 4 hrs)/li>
  • First Aid (at least 4 hrs)
  • Lifeguard theory (at least 4 hours)

We are happy to work with you to provide a program of ongoing CPD for your employees, (sessions of up to 12 employees).