®

Entry Requirement

An individual undertaking this course will need to demonstrate the following to be eligible for entry:

• Physical capability to be able to meet the demands of the practical demonstration skills including:

•  CPR*

• Retrieve an object from the deepest water within the aquatic environment no greater than 3 metres in depth. (If depth is greater than 3 metres, assistance may be used e.g. fins)

• Complete a 25-metre swim and a 25 metre non-contact tow of a conscious casualty with assisted landing in less than 1 minute and 45 seconds

• Work as a team to perform spinal immobilisation, stabilisation and removal of a suspected spinal injury casualty in both shallow and deep water

• Assist two other team members with the removal of an unconscious person from the water.

Please note, if you plan to work as a Pool Lifeguard, the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations note there are minimum age, health and fitness requirements of persons employed to be performing the role of a Pool Lifeguard.

The Guidelines for Safe Pool Operation (GSPO) SV11 Pool Lifeguard Health Assessments outlines the criteria regarding vision, hearing, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, pregnancy and immunizations.

SV12 Pool Lifeguard Fitness Assessments outlines the criteria to ensure lifeguards are physically fit enough to perform the required tasks and to provide a measure of safety should an emergency occur that requires physical ability.

*Important note: In order to issue an accredited certificate, CPR must be performed on the floor with no exemptions.

Units Delivered

The following units will be included in your certificate:

• SISSS00133 - Pool Lifeguard Skillset

• SISCAQU019 - Supervise patron safety in aquatic locations

• SISCAQU021 - Perform complex water rescues 

• SISCAQU020 - Perform water rescues

• SISCAQU022 - Provide oxygen resuscitation and therapy in an aquatic environment

• HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation

• HLTAID011 - Provide First Aid (Credit Transfer or additional day required)

Course Details

Assessment Activities

• Simulated First Aid Scenario – Adult CPR (Selection of a scenario where the student has no prior knowledge of the casualty’s condition prior to starting treatment)

• Complete a first aid incident report form based on the simulated first aid scenario

• Performance Task – Infant CPR

• Performance Tasks – Medical, Trauma & Environmental (Tasks 1 – 8)

  • Anaphylaxis

  • Asthma

  • Choking

  • Non-life-threatening-bleeding, minor wound cleaning & shock

  • Nosebleed

  • Fractures & dislocations

  • Sprains and strains

  • Envenomation (snake/ funnel-web spider bite)

• Identify the casualty’s illness or injury through history, signs and symptoms. 

  • use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. 

  • provide appropriate first aid treatment. 

  • convey incident details to emergency services or advise casualty on any required post incident action. 

  • provide an accurate verbal and written report of the incident. 

  • review the incident. 

• Respond to unsafe situations 

• Complete a fitness test: 

  • Swim 200m in less than 6 minutes 

  • Retrieve an object at the deepest part of the pool at the aquatic facility 

• Perform the following aquatic rescues: 

  • Non-swim assists - talk, reach, rope throw, and flotation aid throw rescues 

  • Swim rescues – accompanied and a non-contact tow (25m swim, 25m non-contact tow with assisted landing in less than 1.45 minutes)

  • Contact tow of a conscious casualty using a spinal board 

  • Contact tow with the use of an aid of a non-breathing casualty with spinal board extraction 

  • Team rescue of a submerged swimmer 

• Complete the tasks in line with State/Territory regulations, first aid codes of practice, first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies and workplace or site procedures.