Lifesavers
WetWetWet Swim Squad aim to help produce a new generation of children who can not only swim competently but also have a strong awareness of water safety and rescue principles.
Rookie Lifeguard Programme
You will be invited to attend our Rookie Lifesaving programme once your swimming is of a strong enough standard to benefit you and others.
Rookie Lifeguard is aimed at children – though the skills learned through the course of the programme are just as valuable to people of all ages.
The scheme begins with Stage 1 of the Bronze Award and progresses to Stage 3 of the Gold Award, starting off at an ability level suitable for beginner Rookies, and progressing to the level where our Rookie Lifeguards perform impressive lifesaving tows.
Bronze Stages Curriculum
Upon completion of Bronze Stages 1, 2 and 3, Rookie Lifeguards should be able to:
- Enter shallow water safely and confidently and wade
- Tread water and signal for help
- Swim continuously in clothing for 50m
- Swim Lifesaving Backstroke
- Scull head and feet first
- Hold the ‘HELP’ position
- Demonstrate a non-swimmer, weak swimmer and an unconscious casualty
- Demonstrate a ‘Shout and Signal’ rescue
- Throw an aid
- Demonstrate a reach rescue
- Enter deep water safely and confidently
- Perform a feet first surface dive and swim underwater
- Climb out in deep water without using the steps
Silver Stages Curriculum
Upon completion of Silver Stages 1, 2 and 3 Rookie Lifeguards should be able to:
- Swim continuously in clothing for 200m on your front and back
- Demonstrate a reaching rescue
- Throw a buoyant aid to a casualty 8m away
- Enter shallow water and wade to a casualty
- Using a throwing aid, instruct the casualty what to do
- Using a rigid aid instruct the casualty what to do
- The support position
- Tread water for 3 minutes
- Swimming, surface dives and object recovery
- Shallow turn and rescue an ‘unconscious casualty’
- Coil and throw a rope to a casualty 10m away and pull to the side in less than 45 seconds
- Enter deep water using a straddle jump
- Demonstrate a fall-in entry into clear deep water
- Swim 20m continuously with your head out of the water on your front
Gold Stages Curriculum
Upon completion of Gold Stages 1, 2 and 3 Rookies should be able to:
- Coil and throw a rope to a casualty and pull to the side
- Swim 400m continuously in clothing
- Demonstrate Lifesaving Backstroke, Sidestroke, Breaststroke or Front Crawl
- Tread water, removing clothing then swim 50m
- Climb out of deep water unaided
- Demonstrate fall-in, compact jump or shallow dive
- Demonstrate a Reverse
- Demonstrate a Standoff
- Rescue an unconscious casualty at depth in less than 2 minutes 30 seconds
- Demonstrate supported rescue breathing whilst waiting for help
- Demonstrate the support position
- Demonstrate non-contact rescues
- Treat for shock
- Hand signals
- Using any recognised competitive stroke, swim 400m continuously, in less than 12 minutes
