Lifesavers, the Royal Life
Saving Society UK was founded in 1891 and is the UK governing body for
Lifesaving and Lifeguarding. NSVL is just one of around 500 lifeguard and lifesaving clubs in
the country.
NSVL can offer the full range of Lifesaver's challenging
and exciting awards and qualifications, which allow people of all ages to
handle any situation that demands lifesaving, lifeguarding and life support
skills. Anyone who has undertaken a Lifesavers course should have the
ability to make a crucial difference when it counts.
Use the links on the left to find the type of training you
are looking for, or if you are unsure, read our awards overview to see the
types of training available.
Awards Overview - from 6 to 66
The following is a list of all awards that are available.
To view brief details of what each award comprises, click on the '+'
button, or click on the main heading for each group of awards to go to that section of the website.
Junior Lifesaving - Pool based, 6-12 years Rookie
Lifesavers
Children aged between 6 and 14 can become a Rookie Lifesaver and participate
in club, branch and regional activities and follow a carefully planned Lifesaving
skills programme for young people, but in an action packed environment.
The programme is divided into four areas; Water Safety, Rescue, Self Rescue
and Emergency Response and aims to:
- teach lifesaving skills
- increase swimming competence
- develop survival skills in water
- develop confidence, initiative, judgement
- develop teamwork and leadership
- BE FUN!
There are over 40,000 Rookies in the UK and the number is
growing. The Rookie programme can suit anyone, you do not need to be an Olympic
Swimmer or an expert lifesaver. The programme also meets the requirements
of the National Curriculum.
Introductory Lifesaving - Pool based, but with minimal swimming, age 13 to adults Lifesaving
1These awards introduce
the basic aquatic lifesaving skills and provide a good preparation for the
Bronze Medallion. Lifesaving 1, 2, 3 are three separate and progressive awards
and cover the swimming requirement for GCSE for PE. They may also be used
at Bronze level for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Service.
AIM: Lifesaving is a stand-alone award for adults who want to learn
skills that would enable them to rescue children who may unintentionally fall
into water. It is also particuarly suitable for a person who may be confident
in the water but not yet able to swim a great distance.
SKILLS: - Casualty identification
- Reaching rescue
- Wading rescue
- Accompanied rescue
- Incident training
- Knowledge of:
- Water Safety
- Principles of water rescue
- Dangers of open water
- Seeking help
Lifesaving
2AIM: To test
further the candidate's judgement and skill, using rescue techniques and principles
involving the minimum of risk, accomplished through the use of non-contact
rescues. Candidates are also required to show the ability to care for casualties
following rescue.
- Theory of:
- Casualty recognition
- Principles of water rescue
- Water safety code
Lifesaving
3 AIM: To test the candidate's knowledge of casualty recognition with
the appropriate application of rescue skills and life support skills to show
the application of contact rescues of unconscious casualties and the involvement
of untrained bystanders. This award provides a level of preparation for the
RLSS UK Bronze Medallion.
SKILLS: - Casualty recognition
- Water-based rescues of unconscious casualty
- In-water rescue breathing
- Land-based rescue breathing
- Recovery position
- Recovery of a submerged 'casualty'
- Initiative rescues
- Theory of:
- Water safety in the home
- Local water safety
- Recreational water safety
Higher Lifesaving - Pool based, with extensive swimming, age 13 to adults Bronze
Medallion (13+) Established more than 100 years ago, The Bronze Medallion is still recognised
as the flagship award for lifesaving. Many hundreds of thousands of adults
and children, have been awarded their Bronze Medallion. The award is designed
to establish competent levels of knowledge combined with practical rescue
skills in simulated open water emergencies. Training and assessment is undertaken
in a swimming pool.
New candidates undergo around 20 hours of training prior to a formal assessment
that will incorporate the following:
- Life support techniques
- Theory about water safety
- Rescue principles
- Practical sessions covering land based and wading rescue
- Test of strength and stamina - a timed swim with clothing of 100
- metres including a 50 metre tow
- Rescue of struggling casualty
- Submerged casualty resuscitation rescue
- Simulated incident involving the rescue of two casualties
Minimum age for candidates is 13 years (12 years for holders of an Assistant
Beach Lifesaver Award or Rookie Star Grade level 4 or Lifesaving 3). Candidates
must also complete the syllabus and assessment for Life Support 1.
The Bronze Medallion can be taken as part of the GCSE PE swimming element
and can form a section within the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Service) at Bronze
or Silver level. Award
of Merit (15+)Candidates
need to be 15 years old and able to swim faster and further than for the Bronze
Medallion. The Award of Merit - more technically demanding than the Bronze
Medallion.
Candidates must complete the syllabus and assessment for Life Support 2 and
the Bronze Cross before being assessed for Award of Merit. Distinction
(16+)
Open Water Lifesaving - age 12 to adults Assistant Beach Lifesaver Award
An award for younger people, or those who are aiming to be beach lifeguards and offers introductory training in the skills and knowledge required for beach lifeguarding. Bronze Cross
A lifesaving award designed to establish competent levels of ability in an open water rescue. The award is taken at an open water site and must be completed before taking the Award of Merit. Silver Cross
The Silver Cross is included as a prerequisite for the Distinction Award. It is a lifesaving award designed to establish proficient levels of knowledge and practical ability in open water situations.
Candidates must be 16 and able to demonstrate technical excellence in the
full range of skills and knowledge, along with being able to swim further
and faster than for the Award of Merit.
Candidates must complete the Life Support 3 and Silver Cross syllabus and
assessment before the Distinction assessment.
This is an introductory life support award and includes summoning assistance,
obtaining a clear airway and stabilising an unconscious casualty. An A4 leaflet
containing information about the syllabus and certificate for this teacher
assessed award is available. Rescue
Breathing
For younger lifesavers this award includes summoning assistance, rescue breathing
and the stabilisation of an unconscious casualty. An A5 colour comic booklet
containing details of the syllabus & certificate for this teacher-assessed
award is available. Life
Support 1
This aims to establish a competent level of knowledge and skill to administer
Basic Life Support including the diagnosis and treatment of choking, bleeding
and shock.
Life Support 1 is now included as part of the Bronze Medallion, or can be
taken as a separate award. Life
Support 2
This aims to establish proficient levels of knowledge to administer Basic
Life Support including the diagnosis and treatment of choking, bleeding, shock,
drowning and Hypothermia. Life Support 2 is a pre-requisite for the Award
of Merit. Life
Support 3
Designed to establish excellent levels of knowledge and ability to administer
Basic Life Support to casualties of all ages and in a variety of emergency
situation. This is the highest level of life support accreditation and is
a pre-requisite for the Distinction Award. Heartstart
Basic Life Support (Community-based)
The Heartstart programme has been devised by the British Heart Foundation
and is a 2-hour community course based on a video which introduces the recovery
position, adult life support, and treatment for choking, heart attack and
bleeding.
Courses are free and can be organised to suit a particular group's needs,
either at our training venue or at a venue suitable for you.
It can be undertaken by lifeguards holding a current National Pool or Beach
Lifeguard Qualification, and is usually coupled with defibrillation training.
Defibrillation Training in Extended Life Support Techniques using an AED (Automated Emergency
Defibrillator) can be provided in the work place and to First Responder teams
in the community where ambulance access may be delayed.
Click for more information on defibrillator training.
Save
a Baby's Life (Community-based)
This 2-hour programme is delivered to carers of infants. It covers what to
do in an emergency situation involving choking, drowning or cessation of breathing
in babies up to 12 months.
Emergency Response (Open Water) Emergency Response (Open Water)
This is a basic rescue programme designed to provide training in safe land
based rescue techniques and rescue aids. It is designed for those working
in an open space adjacent to water including park wardens, rangers, gardeners
and farmers.
Click on this link for more information on Emergency Response Awards National
Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches
This is an assessment in practical lifesaving skills that may be needed by
anyone teaching or coaching swimming or another programmed or structured activity
in a pool. It is endorsed by the Amateur Swimming Association, The Institute
of Sport and Recreation Management and The Institute of Swimming Teachers
and Coaches.
The award is also recognised in 'Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools'
as being appropriate for those supervising swimming pool programmed activities.
The award is not a recognised pool lifeguard qualification, but is intended
for those who have the responsibility for supervising swimmers with disabilities.
Required skills covered in the award include:
- Swimming 20 metres on the front and back
- Entering and exiting the water safely
- Non-contact rescue
- Wading rescue
- Two person extended rescue
- Assisting a casualty to leave the water
- Contact tow rescue
- Resuscitation rescue
- Recovery of a submerged casualty
- Single person CPR
- Initiative rescue and theory of:
- Principles of Session Management
- Accident Prevention
- Basic First Aid
- Pool Safety Operating Procedures
Lifeguarding - age 16 and over National
Pool Lifeguard Qualification
The aim of the qualification is to establish competence in pool lifeguard
skills including water rescue and life support for personnel employed or as
volunteers in the leisure industry as a swimming pool lifeguard. The syllabus
covers the criteria laid down in the Health and Safety Commission publication
'Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools'
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: - Principles of pool design and risk factors
- Water safety and accident prevention
- Role of the Lifeguard
- Pool observations and supervision skills
- Principles of written operating procedures
- Poolside rescue equipment
- Drowning, dry drowning and secondary drowning
SKILLS: - Scanning, observation and supervision skills
- Use of poolside rescue equipment
- Communication methods
- Casualty recognition
- Principles of rescue and manual handling
- Fitness training
- The concept of progressive rescue
- Spinal cord injury management
- CPR and First Aid
Follow this link for comprehensive pool lifeguard information. National
Beach Lifeguard Qualification
Designed to establish competence for beach lifeguards responsible for the
safety of those using an open water location for recreational purposes. The
syllabus covers the criteria laid down in the joint Lifesavers and
RoSPA publications Safety on British Beaches and Safety
at Inland Water Sites.
Follow this link for comprehensive beach lifeguard information. Rescue
Boat Crew and Helm
Can only be taken by qualified beach lifeguards holding a current National
Beach Lifeguard qualification or its equivalent. They include training and
assessment to become a rescue boat helmsman or crewman.
For more information on rescue boat training at NSVL, click
here.
Training and Assessing age 14+ / 18+ Assistant
Teacher (Lifesaving) 14+
This is an introduction to the core teaching skills to effectively deliver
lifesaving competance and knowledge to lifesavers of all ages, levels and
abilities whilst working under the supervision of a Lifesaving Trainer Assessor. Trainer
Assessor (Lifesaving / ELS / Pool and Beach Lifeguard / Rescue Boat)
Following their successful attendance on foundation and specialist modules,
a Trainer Assessor is qualified to train and assess lifesavers or lifeguards
and develop the lifesaving or lifeguard programmes. The Pool and Beach Lifeguard
Trainer Assessor training programmes have been developed in close consultation
with the leisure industry. Mentor
(Lifesaving)
To provide support and advice for lifesaving volunteers, lifesaving Assistant
Teachers, Trainer Assessors and candidates for awards. National
Trainer Assessor (all disciplines)
To lead, support, guide and assess all previous levels of the education and
training programme, monitor and report on the standards of training and assessing
activities and support the development of Trainer Assessors. Staff
National Trainer Assessor (all disciplines)
To lead, support, guide and assess at all levels of the education and training
programme and to provide training for National Trainer Assessors.
Rookie
Lifesavers