The Coastal Surveillance Award is the ideal first step into beach safety and lifeguarding.
- Open to members aged 14 and over, making it one of the most accessible entry points into surf lifesaving
- Builds the observation and environmental awareness skills that sit at the heart of all lifeguard training
- A short, focused course requiring just 3 hours of guided learning
Who is this award for?
SLSGB members aged 14 or over who want to contribute to beach safety through supervised or independent coastal surveillance patrol. Those aged 14–15 can provide supervised supernumerary patrol, while those aged 16 and over can carry out a fully competent surveillance patrol independently.
What is covered during the award?
The Coastal Surveillance Award equips you with the knowledge and skills to spot danger before it develops — and to take the right action when it does. At its core is a focus on:
- Your roles and responsibilities as a Coastal Surveillance Patrol member
- Understanding your duty of care and the limits of your role
- Knowledge of your local beach area and how it is zoned for surveillance
- Recognising signs of distress and changes in behaviour that indicate someone may be in difficulty
- Appropriate use of mobile phones during patrol
- The key documents that underpin safe and effective surveillance
How is the assessment completed?
You will be assessed by your SLSGB Trainer Assessor using a combination of observation, questioning and professional discussion. The course is delivered over approximately 3 hours in a classroom setting, with observation of the environment in which you are training included as part of the session.
Is prior experience required for this award?
To complete the Coastal Surveillance Award you will need to have sufficient vision to read a car number plate from 20 metres (glasses or contact lenses are fine). No prior lifeguarding experience is required — this award is designed as an entry point into beach safety.
