11/06/2019

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is always working to ensure that the qualifications our clients deliver, not only manifest best practice and industry guidance but are also as realistic as possible, incorporating the most relevant and up-to-date information. 

Our National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Generation 9, launched in July 2018, is no different.

As standard practice for all our awards and qualifications, we carry out rigorous ongoing research in several areas, not just lifeguarding, reviewing and appraising incidents and accidents to help improve our provision. 
 
As in everyday life, advanced technology is increasingly being used by leisure operators and venues, right across the UK and Ireland. RLSS UK has spent the past 12 months studying video evidence of drownings, non-fatal drowning incidents and fatalities in swimming pools, to better understand how individuals behave and react, in these situations.

Our research has shown, that casualties behave in a variety of ways beyond what we would expect consequently, we have used these findings to enhance and further strengthen the casualty recognition section of the NPLQ; encouraging and empowering lifeguards to investigate any person behaving in an unusual (not normal) way.
 
Using real-life footage and working with Poolview, we have created six real-life videos to give lifeguards a more in-depth understanding of a casualty’s behaviour.

These videos give both an underwater and lifeguard view, of a variety of casualties in difficulty.   

Watch them here: https://youtu.be/YDQ37HztmdU 

Jo Talbot, Commercial Operations Director at RLSS UK explains:

“It is vitally important that we provide lifeguards with the best possible training to support them in their role and ensure leisure operators benefit from the most proficient and confident staff.

“We are continually reviewing research and looking at incidents that have occurred, to help us improve our qualifications and training.

“I’m so excited to be able to now include these revolutionary videos, as valuable training resources for both qualifying lifeguards and lifeguards completing their ongoing training. It ensures RLSS UK remains at the forefront of lifesaving awards and qualifications, so everyone can enjoy the water, safely.”