The Water Safety Ireland (WSI) National Pool Lifeguard Award is the nationally and internationally recognised qualification required to work as a Pool Lifeguard in Ireland or abroad.
This award is recognised by the International Life Saving (ILS) federation, the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Associations (IFSTA) and the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF).
The WSI National Pool Lifeguard Award consists of three broad sections.
Theory – A series of lectures along with supplementary worksheets cover the theory behind everything from rescues to pool water testing and observation techniques. There is a strong emphasis here on the practical knowledge that a Pool Lifeguard will need to perform their duties.
BLS – Basic Life Support is taught as a key skill for Pool Lifeguards in dealing with major emergencies. Training manikins and bag valve masks (BVMs) are used to allow candidates to get practical experience of giving chest compressions and ventilations as well as the use of trainer AEDs and oxygen administration.
Water Work – Pool and classroom time are dedicated to working on a set of core rescue techniques, key to any Pool Lifeguard’s skills. Among the techniques practised are land-based rescues, swimming rescues, escapes from drowning grips, in-water resuscitation and spinal injury management.
Course Features
- Lectures 17
- Quiz 0
- Duration 10 weeks
- Skill level Intermediate
- Language English
- Students 929
- Assessments Yes
Curriculum
- 17 Sections
- 17 Lessons
- 10 Weeks
- Module 1: National Pool Lifeguard Award1 Item
- Module 2: Legislation, Training & Qualifications1 Item
- Module 3: The Professional Rescuer1 Item
- Module 4: The Role of the Pool Lifeguard1 Item
- Module 5: The Pool & Safety Awareness1 Item
- Module 6: Pool Features1 Item
- Module 7: Rescue Techniques1 Item
- Module 8: Basic Life Support1 Item
- Module 9: Spinal Injury Management1 Item
- Module 10: Pool Water Awareness1 Item
- Module 11: Disability Awareness1 Item
- Module 12: Code of Ethics & Good Practice1 Item
- Module 13: First Aid Awareness1 Item
- Module 14: Pool Operation Skills1 Item
- Module 15: Dry & Secondary Drowning1 Item
- Module 16: Pool Lifeguard CPD1 Item
- Online Pool Lifeguard Course Evaluation1 Item
Requirements
- Candidates should be 16 years of age or older.
- Candidates should be strong swimmers, especially in deep water.
- Candidates should be able to swim head-up front crawl, side stroke, inverted breast stroke and surface dive to the deepest part of the pool.
- Candidates should be able to swim 50m front crawl in under 60 seconds.
