Beach Lifeguard
Pool Lifeguard
Rookies (6-13)
Lifesaving (senior)
Community
First Aid
First Responder
Trainer Assessor

Main page
Crew Syllabus

Rescue Boat (Helm) Assessment Syllabus

After you have qualified as Rescue Boat (Crew) you will be able to attend the Rescue Boat (Helm) course, which goes more indepth into the skills and theory and specifically to the role and responsibilities of the helmsman.

You must fulfil the following pre-requisites before attendance:

A1 - At least 18-years-of-age at the commencement of training
A2 - Hold a current National Beach Lifeguard Qualification
A3 - Hold a current Life Support 3 award
A4 - Hold a current Rescue Boat (Crew) Qualification
A5 - Have no limiting disabilities

The initial training course will again last a minimum of 15 hours, after which you will be required to log a minimum of 20 hours of logged practical experience (e.g. when on patrol) over a period of no less than six months. These are the minimum durations and typically courses and ongoing training will exceed these durations.

Assessment Syllabus

Shorebased Teaching

B1 - Communications
Demonstrate knowledge of all hand, flag and whistle signals, and flares and their uses.

B2 - Legal Requirements
Demonstrate a knowledge of the legal requirements of a helmsman when afloat.

B3 - Local Navigation
Demonstrate a knowledge of the local navigation rules and regulatiions.

B4 - Rules of the Road
Demonstrate knowledge of the rules of the road and local byelaws.

B5 - Weather and Local Conditions
Demonstrate a knowledge of weather and how it might affect local conditions.

B6 - Record Keeping
Demonstrate a knowledge of incident reporting systems.

Practical Rescue Boat Training

C1 - Knots
Demonstrate the tying and have a knowledge for the use of the knots shown in the current Beach Lifeguarding manual.

C2 - Radios
Demonstrate a knowledge of the use of VHF radios and basic maintenance.

C3 - Craft and Motor
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the craft, its equipment and motor including the appropriate spares to be carried.
Demonstrate and ability to carry out minor repairs to the motor using the tools and spares normally carried.

C4 - Pre-operation Checks
Demonstrate a knowledge of all the helmsman's responsibilities in the pre-operation checks and all safety aspects to be observed in the operation of the IRB.

C5 - Launching, Manoeuvring and Recovery
Demonstrate competence in all aspects of the helmsman's responsibilities in launching , manoeuvring and recovery of the IRB.
Demonstrate competence in making the craft secure for transportation by road.

C6 - Rescues
Demonstrate the helmsman's role whilst performing the following rescues with a casualty weighing no more than 70kg (11 stone):

- Crewman's swim and tow, with a towing aid
- Throw line or towing aid to casualty
- Safely tow another craft, alongside and from astern
- Mass rescue, encompassing any of the above, with at least 3 casualties

C7 - Casualty Carry
Demonstrate the role of the helmsman in the patient carry.

C8 - Emergency Procedure
Demonstrate the ability to cope with any of the following emergency situations:

- Engine failure in at least 2 types of conditions
- Simulated puncture of pontoon or damage
- Weed or rope tangled in propellor
- Roll-over including a demonstration of the sequence of steps o be carried out on the motor after immersion (to be carried out with or without engine)

C9 - General Operation
Where available, demonstrate the accurate laying, adjustment and recovery of buoys and anchors.

C10 - Stowage of Equipment
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the helmsman's responsibilities towards the stowage of the IRB, motor and equipment after use.

C11 - Maintenance
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the helmsman's responsibilities towards the routine maintenance of the IRB and motor.