First Aid a Lifeguard Qualification ?

Lifeguards Ireland pose this question? Why is the First Aid standard for Lifeguards not Occupational First Aid or the UK equivalent First Aid at Work. Should it not be a mandatory requirement for the NPLQ or NBLQ? In Ireland the OFA is the only statutory first aid qualification and is a level 5 Fetac award.

The role of a Lifeguard is a serious responsibility and it is almost a certainty that the provision of First Aid will be required in the fulfillment of ones duties. While recognising the excellent training and standards of the many voluntary and other bodies, surly the qualification should be the Health & Safety Authority standard. This would provide a recognised statutory qualification for Lifeguards and their employers. And in doing so offer afford a new confidence to the public at large.

Your comments please ?

Pool Lifeguard convicted after dad dies in swimming pool

BIRMINGHAM MAIL 31 OCT 2009

A LIFEGUARD has been found guilty of failing to take care of swimmers on the day a dad died in a Midland swimming pool.
Alex Cotterill had been responsible for baths at the Walsall campus of Wolverhampton University when the body of father-of-three Adrian Miles was recovered. Mr Miles, 48, had been lying at the bottom of the pool for at least 25 minutes.
Cotterill, 28, of Penn, Wolverhampton, sat motionless as a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found him guilty of breaching a duty of work.

He will be sentenced at a later date.
end.


Comments :
I wonder what effect this will have on the recruitment and retention of Lifeguards at swimming pools and how will it effect local councils ability to keep swimming pools open. Whilst this incident is very tragic and action needs to be taken I wonder if prosecution is in the public interest.
25/10/2009 5:42 PM GMT on birminghammail.net



Hi, as a Safety Manager for a Leisure Trust I can see the recruitment issue but surely it is obvious that this is not only in the public interest but in the interest of employers also. Finally, Lifeguards must realise and take their duties seriously. The staff we do recruit will be the ones that fully understand their responsibility and that has to be good for the customers they supervise.
6/11/2009 11:47 AM GMT on birminghammail.net

Surf Coach Lifesaving

Lifeguards Ireland would love to hear your views on the possible development of an Life Saving award suitable for Surf Coaches which would ensure that a standard of safety would apply to all Surf Coaches/Instructors.
One question that has been raised repeatedly is the time swim!! What do you thing is a good reflection of the fitness standard that should apply?

400m continuous swim in a pool in under 8 mins is the ILS standard.

Is it a fair comment to suggest that a Surf Coach should have the same swimming fitness as a Lifeguard? Some suggest this is not necessary but others take the view that the responsibility for surf students is similar to that of a Lifeguard. After all it is a 'Duty to Care'.

It is interesting that the RNLI require the same timed swim in under 7.30 minutes.
Your views please to me by email ??

Jack
Email : info@lifeguardsireland.com

Course Registeration and Late Candidates

If you are a TA (Beach) reading this post then this is a gentle reminder that you need to register your course a least 10 working days (Don't include Saturdays or Sundays, Public or Bank Holidays) in advance on their proposed starting date.
Remember your course is not official until a course number has been issued. This is very important and late registration has all sorts of implications not least that of insurance. So...please take note. Also if you want me to post your course on the new 'Course Finder' section of Lifesavers then 10 days would be the very minimum necessary to do so. This service is in addition to the posting on 'Lifeguards Ireland' website.

I understand your position; in that you are waiting to the very last minute to consolidate the maximum number of candidates on your courses. However, I do think it is best that you put a definite closing date up on the website and stick to that!! Also please remember that once a course is registered you cannot add extra candidates to it - for the same reasons as stated above. NBLQ courses are rather different that that of a NPLQ in administration.

So, set a closing date at least 10 working days in advance of proposed start date and collect in your deposits. I think that we have all learned not to accept candidates without a substantial deposit. No, not even your cousin !!

Jack

Developing the Beach Lifeguard Programme

With the ever increasing growth in the Beach Lifeguard programme there is now an urgent need to develop equipment available on courses. To run a successful course TAs should consider the following recommendations as minimum equipment -

4 x Rescue Tubes
4 x Little Annies
1 x Little Junior
1 x Little Baby
2 Laerdal face masks
Sterile cleaning product for manikins and masks etc
1 x Statutory First Aid Kit
1 x First Aid Training Kit
1 x Metronome (optional)
12 x Bright Coloured Swimming Hats
2 x Fox Whistles
1 x Set of Hand Held Signal Flags
1 x Set of Beach Marker Flags
1 x Malibu Surf Rescue Board
2 x Throw Bags
1 x Throw Rescue Rope

Now there is lots more that I know you can suggest to this list. So let's have it!And remember this is in addition to the 'Beach Lifeguard' book which new candidates will automatically receive on all courses registered through Lifeguards Ireland.

Now all TAs within the Lifeguards Ireland umbrella group have been signed off for the Malibu, paddle craft, surf modules and indeed let's not forget knots!!

So we need to plan courses to include a least the Malibu board especially where the candidates include experienced surfers. And let's face it we all can learn the knots, can't we? The surf module has proven to be a little more difficult as the logistics of same require a little more in the planning. However, the demand is there so I think it is time to make preparations for a course addressed at existing holders of the NBLQ and those that have proven surf experience.

Local Authorities (Co.Council) Beach Lifeguard Tests

This is a summary of what you should expect if you have applied to work for a Local Authority (Co. Council).

IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFO CONTACT US.

ELEMENTS OF BEACH LIFEGUARD TEST

Water work

1. 75-meter approach with canbuoy (timed) followed by 75-meter carry (efficiency)

2. 25-meter head up approach, release and 25 meter carry (Method A)

3. 25-meter head up approach, release and 25 meter carry (Method B)

4. 25-meter head up approach, release and 25 meter carry (Method C)

5. Demonstrate deep-water resuscitation

6. Carry out systematic search of a designated area of the pool

(Water Work Section is Continuous)


7. Demonstrate Basic Lift Support and Aftercare, Adult and Infant

8. Theory on: Basic Lift Support, First Aid and General Lifeguard Duties and
Responsibilities.

9. Some Local Authorities will have different tests to cater for the varying conditions the Lifeguard will work in. e.g. rivers, lakes, piers surfing beaches etc

Recommended Lifeguard Equipment

ILS have recommendations for both personal use and station equipment for Lifeguards, but remember these are only recommendations! You can download the two documents on our 'Documents Download' web page.

The next recommendation has to include a RWC!!

International Life Saving

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION

Do you know that International Life Saving Federation is the world authority in the global effort to prevent drowning and regroups national life saving organisations/federations aiming at improving water safety, water rescue, lifesaving and lifeguarding and lifesaving sport. ILS is a non-political, non-religious, worldwide organisation.

Did you know that ILS has 'Equivalency Tables'for many of the awards/qualifications issued in its member organisations. ILS issues certificates to qualified persons who wish to be recognised internationally for their level of training.

ILS certificates do not represent a license that guarantees employment, but they do confirm that the holder of the certificate has successfully completed a course of training which meets minimum internationally recognised competencies developed by ILS.
Upon recommendation of the Education Committee, the ILS Board of Directors approved that owners of certificates issued by Full Member Lifesaving Federations can earn ILS Certificates. The tables are solely to be interpreted in one direction, from national certificate to ILS certificate.


Need more info? Well, email me.

Employment Beach Lifeguards Summer Season

LIFEGUARD JOBS (Beach and Pool)

That time has arrived again. The Local Authorities are now recruiting for positions on the beaches throughout the country. It is now necessary to hold a beach award or a qualification. We naturally recommend that yoy hold the National Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NBLQ). You should check your local newspapers for adverts or contact the Water Safety Development Officer in the county or indeed counties that you hope to work in.

Most important check out the web site ' Local Government Jobs ' and search each county for notices of recruitment and remember to check back !! The web site link is http://www.localgovernmentjobs.ie/

Another good web site for POOL and LEISURE CENTRE jobs is http://www.jobs.ie/

Now back to beaches -

• Firstly, you need to be making application to the Local Authority of your choice and indeed to a few others too, in case you don't get the one you want!! Most, if not all applications close around the end of March. Remember County Mayo comes highly recommended but then I am biased !!

• Secondly, you need to be training for the water assessments and I really mean training. The tests are carried out by IWS on behalf of the Local Authorities. Remember the emphasis is on fitness and speed and it is against the clock and all held in a pool. The Life Support is the same as is taught by Lifesavers RLSS so hopefully it should not pose a great difficulty. Then you have the 'physical contact' rescues. While we in Lifesavers RLSS puts emphasis on non-contact rescues and the use of professional rescue equipment, you will be required to demonstrate your 'physical contact' lifesaving skills in this discipline.

• Finally, if you get through all that you will be called for an interview by the Local Authority. Stress your professional training and discipline - that's what make you as a Lifesaver RLSS Beach Lifeguard special and different. All Local Authorities look for commitment and are impressed by appearance and presentation.

Good Luck !!

lifeguards

Assistant Beach Lifeguard

This is an exciting award development in the whole area of lifeguarding. It will promote the wider programme and provide a launch pad for those aspiring to complete the full NBLQ. It still requires a high degree of fitness, swimming stamina and as much knowledge and theory on beach lifeguarding and includes Life Support 3. However, while the element of swimming against the clock is retained - it is probably not quite as demanding as the NBLQ.

This new award and the Emergency Outdoor Supervisor and the Rescue Paddle Craft (malibu board), which may in addition, carry the Surf endorsement, will go a long way to address the needs of the safety issues on our beaches and fill the need for additional qualifications/awards required by the industry. I hope too that other sporting bodies will recognise the potential of these awards and qualifications. Have a look at the syllabus on the 'Documents Download' page of our website.

The new Rescue Power Craft (RWC) qualification is also now available and I welcome it. The jet-ski is one of the greatest potential pieces of rescue equipment available to a Lifeguard. I have written about this in a previous blog. There is a real need for Lifeguards to take note of the issues involved to adopt jet-skis as their own and to encourage the regulation and safety of these craft.

Let's have your views!!

TA Membership and LS3

INFORMATION NOTE TO ALL POOL AND BEACH TRAINER ASSESSORS

This blog seeks to address the confusion that seems to have arisen with regard to the requirements of holding a valid TA appointment and membership.

Membership is a continuous requirement. So if you have allowed it to lapse and seek to renew it, then it will be back dated, and does not start from your payment date. Bit like your car tax really !

You must be in proper membership at time of training or assessing. Proper membership is to the fee for the appropriate discipline/s to which you are training and assessing.

To operate as a TA in any discipline you must hold a valid and current LS3. This may be as part of a valid and current NPLQ or of a valid and current NBLQ. If you do not have either a NPLQ or a NBLQ then you, as a TA, must have a 'stand alone' LS3. So even though you may have paid your TA membership fee - it is dependent on a current LS3 as described here.

All awards and qualifications expire on the date printed on the card or certificate. If it is expired then it is expired - even if it is only 12 hours!! This is not difficult to understand.

To maintain your status in any particular discipline as a TA, it is necessary to attend the updates relevant to that discipline. Many of these updates are now done by 'distance updates'.

Notice of all updates and other requirements are clearly printed and flagged in your LIFEGUARD magazine. They are also published in 'LIFEGUARD LINKS' which is the quarterly newsletter of IQL IRELAND. You can subscribe to the newsletter by contacting IQL IRELAND.

Notice of these updates and other courses are also published the website of LIFEGUARDS IRELAND.

In addition, you should know that all back issues of 'LIFEGUARDS LINKS' to 2004 to date are available on-line on our 'Documents Download' page.

If you are not receiving your copy of the LIFEGUARD magazine then it is because of one of two reasons -
You are NOT in membership so they stop sending out anything to you.
River House have an incorrect postal address for you and it is being sent elsewhere.

It is up to YOU to maintain your qualifications and your appointment, reminders are not sent to you - please read all your documents and material carefully. Invalid return forms are simply returned and it is possible that candidates on such an invalid course may have a legal case against either or both, the Trainer and Assessor.


So now please check all your cards and certificates. Do you remember where they are ?


Any questions by email only please !!

Best Regards to Everyone
Jack

Hoping to come to Ireland and work as a LIFEGUARD ?

Important Information you should know before you come to IRELAND

We have received numerous emails from all around the world seeking work as a Lifeguard here in Ireland. Getting a job on the beach or in a pool is not that easy !!Firstly, you will need to be a Citizen of the European Union to gain residence in Ireland and indeed there could be restrictions even within this category. If you are from outside the EU you will need a work permit. In both cases you should check with the Irish Embassy in your own country before even thinking of coming to Ireland.

The competition for positions on beaches is hotly contested and you will be required to successfully complete tests in water fitness, life saving skills and resuscitation before being even considered for a position. These tests usually take place around Easter time. Jobs are advertised in the local and national papers so you need to have access to these too!!

Employment is pools is somewhat similar and while your qualifications may be recognised that in itself is not a guarantee of employment. If you have qualifications, such as Surf Instructor, in addition to to that of a Lifeguard then opportunities do exist in Outdoor Leisure and Adventure Centres.

So...... our advice is firstly to check if you can enter and stay in the country legally. Secondly check websites and links for prospective jobs and the requirements and qualifications that may be required for any such position. If you want to work as a Beach Lifeguard then contact any on the maritime local authorities (County Councils) immediately for full details.Not easy is it ? lifeguards