The job of a lifeguard is a dream, but to be able to sit on a watchtower wearing a cap and equipped with a whistle, you have to go through several stages.
Before taking the steps for lifesaving lessons, make sure your child has the required swimming skills:
Have completed the Lifesaving Society’s Young Lifeguard training program, or
Have reached the Junior level 10 of the Red Cross or equivalent.
You can also have your child assessed at the aquatic center closest to you, in order to find out their swimming skills. Anyway, during the first lifesaving course – Bronze Medal -, the Lifesaving Society instructor will reassess his swimming techniques.
Become a lifeguard in 4 lessons
The following aquatic continuum is the only possible course to allow your child to become a lifeguard in Quebec.
Bronze medal
Prerequisites:
Be 13 years old at the final exam or hold the Bronze Star certificate.
Demonstrate the skills and knowledge of the Canadian Red Cross Junior 10.
In addition to understanding the four elements of rescue – judgment, knowledge, skills, and physical fitness, the candidate will learn the techniques for rescuing victims.
This course will also allow him to develop better swimming technique while improving his physical endurance. With his Bronze Medal certificate , he will then be able to work as an assistant lifeguard in a public swimming pool (from the age of 15).
Bronze cross
Prior:
Hold the Bronze Medal.
This course provides further lifesaving training and basic aquatic facility surveillance. The candidate will learn to rescue a victim injured in the spine and a victim in cardiopulmonary arrest.
With his Bronze Cross certificate, he will be able to work as an assistant-lifeguard in a public swimming pool (from the age of 15) and on a beach (from the age of 16).
First Aid – General / DEA
Preparatory course to assume the role of responder in an emergency situation, the candidate learns to:
Provide the necessary treatments to control an injury while waiting for pre-hospital emergency services;
use an automated external defibrillator;
administer epinephrine by auto-injector.
National lifeguard
Prerequisites:
Be 16 years old at the final exam.
Hold the Bronze Cross certificate.
Hold the First Aid – General / DEA or Emergency Aquatic / DEA certificate.
Recognized as the performance standard for lifeguards in Canada, the National Lifeguard course is designed to develop the following skills:
Thorough understanding of the principles of surveillance;
good judgment;
responsible attitude regarding the role of the lifeguard in an aquatic facility.
The National Lifeguard certificate allows you to work as an assistant lifeguard in a public swimming pool (from the age of 16) and as a lifeguard (from the age of 17).
If your child is still too young to take this program, you can enroll them in the following courses: Bronze Star or Young Lifeguard. He will be introduced to both first aid and rescue techniques while improving his physical endurance.
To find out the schedule of classes in your region, check with the managers of the aquatic center near you.
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NAVIGATION: 5 REASONS TO BE CAREFUL IN AUTUMN!
Water sports and swimming enthusiasts have returned home… the lake now looks like a haven of peace! Take advantage of the beauty of the autumn landscape by offering yourself one last trip… before your boat goes into winter!
In autumn, however, the weather conditions are different from those in summer. To ensure your safety and that of your loved ones, the Lifesaving Society and the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CNSC) make some recommendations.
- Before leaving, check the weather forecast. The air mass undergoes a temperature variation (hot and cold) which can cause strong winds that lift the waves. This situation can be dangerous for small boats. Also, fog can make navigation difficult. If you encounter such conditions, navigate at a reduced speed and sound your horn at regular intervals to alert other mariners to your presence.
- While some sunny October days are beautiful, resist the urge to dress too lightly. Warm clothing gives you better protection if you fall in the water and can delay the effects of hypothermia (an accidental fall in cold water causes hypothermic shock ).
- Send a copy of your navigation plan to someone you trust: in the event that they have reason to be concerned, they will take the necessary measures to come to your assistance. Also, equip yourself with a VHF radio or cell phone. And, to avoid being stranded in the water due to a breakdown, bring some tools and spare parts.
- Make sure your boat and its engine are in good working order. Add fuel line antifreeze to the tank as a preventative measure. If your boat is powered by an engine that has a portable tank, bring an extra one and keep it in a safe place.
- The water level may have dropped in summer. Stay alert to detect the presence of debris that could damage the hull of your boat… especially if it is going at good speed!
