The Beach Lifeguard Support Award is the essential first step into beach-based lifeguarding for young SLSGB members.
– Enables participants to provide a first aid function and assist with rescues in shallow water up to knee depth as part of a water safety team
– Covers the core knowledge and skills of beach patrolling, communications and emergency first aid
– 25 hours of guided learning combining theory and practical land and water-based activities
– A clear pathway to the Tube Rescuer or Rescue Board Paddler award
Who is this award for?
SLSGB members aged 14 or over who want to begin contributing to beach-based lifeguard cover as part of a water safety team. Those aged 14–15 may provide supervised supernumerary beach-based lifeguard cover, while those aged 16 and over may provide fully competent beach-based lifeguard cover independently. The award is valid for 24 months, with a 12-month annual proficiency required to maintain validity.
What is covered during the award?
The Beach Lifeguard Support Award equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to support a water safety team in a beach environment. At its core is a focus on:
- The knowledge and skills required to work as a Beach Lifeguard within a beach environment
- Surveillance — achieving a 100% pass of the Mastering the Skill of Seeing Accurately module
- The knowledge and skills needed to patrol a beach as a lifeguard
- Working practices in place when operating as a beach lifeguard
- Communication methods available to lifeguards
- Basic and intermediate first aid and life support in an aquatic environment, including paediatric life support
How is the assessment completed?
You will be assessed by your SLSGB Trainer Assessor using a variety of methods across both theory and practical elements, including observation, oral questioning and practical demonstration. Topics assessed include:
– Beach Environment
– Beach Patrolling
– Working Practices
– Communications
– Level 1 First Aid and Level 2 Intermediate First Aid
– Basic Life Support and Paediatric Life Support
– Fitness Test
Is prior experience required for this award?
To complete the Beach Lifeguard Support Award you will need to:
– Be able to run 200 metres in under 1 minute
