The lifesaving section of the club runs the NPLQ pool lifeguard qualification for club members who are 16 years and over. It also provides ongoing training for club lifeguards. We also run Bronze Medallion for members who are 14 years and over. The Bronze Medallion is a lifesaving award which teaches you water safety and personal survival skills, and leads into the Lifeguard qualification when you are 16 years old. Our first members to do the Bronze Medallion are now also qualified lifeguards, and our second group have just received their certificates. The skills your learn could help to save a life.

The club welcome external candidates to join their courses, and our course fees include membership for 12 months. All courses are run by qualified trainers, with pool sessions run during normal club swimming sessions, and theory sessions running along side the pool sessions. Further details of each course are outlined below. To register your interest or request further information please contact us.

NPLQ Pool Lifeguard Qualification
What is involved: 40 hours of formal training followed by a test. You need to have good eyesight, hearing and physical fitness and be able to satisfy the following requirements.

• 16 years of age or over on the first day of the course
• Swim 100 m on your front and 100 m on your back
• Swim 50 m in 60 seconds or less
• Jump or dive into deep water
• Surface dive to the deepest part of the pool (2m)
• Tread water for 30 seconds
• Climb out of the pool unassisted
• Tread water for 30 seconds

The course involves five sections

• Supervision of the swimming pool
• Life Support and Spinal Injury Management
• First Aid
• Water rescue skills
• Application of lifeguard skills to the centre where you work

After qualification: Your qualification is valid for two years, during that time you need to attend ongoing training to maintain your skills. You should do CPR (life support) and fitness training at least once a month. A minimum of 20 hours during the two years. After two years you need to renew your qualification by taking the lifeguard test again.

Bronze Medallion
The course involves a minimum of 20 hours training followed by a test
You need to be 14 years of age or over and meet the following requirements

• Swim 100 m in 3 minutes or less
• Tread water for 2 minutes
• Surface dive to 1.5 m

The course involves three sections

• Life Support
• Personal Survival and water rescue
• Water rescue skills

After qualification: Your certificate if valid for 2 years. After that time you can retake your test. If you go on to take the lifeguard qualification within the 2 year period, your bronze medallion counts towards your lifeguard hours.