Open Water Lifeguard Qualification

Open water swimming is the fastest growing sport worldwide and due to increasing popularity, there is a risk that lifeguards without all of the skills they need maybe asked to lifeguard open water.

The Open Water Lifeguard qualification enables candidates with no previous lifeguard experience to become qualified. By attaining this qualification candidates will have been assessed as competent to provide supervision and rescue cover for planned, organised and risk-assessed activities in open water (still, non-tidal).

The Open Water Lifeguard Qualification delivered over three days, is valid is 2 years and is independently assessed

Who should attend?

Lifeguards who are interested in supervising open water events(still /non tidal)

• Open Water Swim Competitions
• Triathlons
• Public inland bathing sites
• Adventure Races

Prerequisites

• Must be 16 years of age at the date of assessment
• Be able to meet the following criteria:
• Confident in open water
• Able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/ open water swimming continuously on their front and showing urgency
• Able to submerge under the water confidently
• Must complete minimum guided learning hours
• Successfully complete the course assessment

What you will learn.

The course content covers:

The training and assessment for the module is split into three sections:

Section 1 – The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision
Section 2 – Responding to an emergency and taking action
Section 3 – CPR and First Aid

Assessment Process

Assessment for the OWL takes place at the end of the course. It determines your knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a Open Water lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge to keep people safe in open water.

The assessment is split into three sections:

• Practical  Open Water assessment
• Theory Assessment – verbal question and answer session with the assessor
• Practical First Aid & CPR assessment

Continually assessed on course and an independent assessment at the end of the course