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National Lifeguard Appreciation Day
Celebrate the great work that
NLS Lifeguards do at your facility!
www.lifesaving.org
Celebrate your NLS Lifeguards
Your staff are highly trained in preventive measures and emergency response. National
Lifeguard Appreciation Day is an opportunity to show your community what you know and can
do.
Much of what a NLS lifeguard does goes un-noticed by the public. You can share your pride in
your exemplary staff by creating your own “communication plan”. There are some simple
strategies that you can follow to bring attention to fabulous pool staff.
Try a National Lifeguard Appreciation Day where you can profile the excellent work that you
do. An Appreciation Day is a great way to recruit future lifeguard and instructor staff, giving
people an opportunity to see themselves in those roles.
The following two pages provide ideas for displays, mini events and posters that can be done at
your Appreciation Day or even use each idea out through out the year.
1. Create a display:
Key messages include:
- It takes a lot of skill to be a NLS lifeguard. Show a flow chart of the
courses people need to be certified in. Display a copy of the Canadian
Lifesaving Manual and ALERT Manual.
- Lifeguard supervision plays an important role in preventing drowning in
Alberta. Fewer than 1% of all drownings occur under lifeguard supervision.
- Use pictures of your staff in action: Talking with swimmers on deck, doing CPR, practicing
a rescue carry, working behind the scenes, doing a backwash, etc
- Add quotes from the ALERT manual
2. Capture patrons “doing the right thing”:
Each time an adult or child is seen doing something right, reward them by a simple thank
you, or put a tattoo on their arm. This will help people notice that much of what a
lifeguard does is about preventing possible problems and educating people.
3. Track what you do:
Provide a “snap shot” of what you do by reporting some statistics. Post a one page form in your
staff office that tracks what was done that day to protect patron safety. Each time staff finish a
shift, they simply mark off what they did that day to ensure safety at the pool. Categories could
include:
- count number of bathers
- “educational” reminders to behave safely
- public relations with patrons
- actions taken to ensure clean, safe
environment
- minor and/or major first aid responses
4. Strut your stuff:
Invite the community and media in for a demonstration of your rescue and first aid skills or
demonstrate how pool staff keep the water quality high. Consider implementing a “lifeguard of
the week” program or writing up a “biography” of your staff so people can get to know them.
These can become “announcements” in the local community newspaper or pool newsletter.
5. Create a “Did You Know” poster:
Create a poster that will inform people of all the jobs that lifeguards do behind the scenes to
maintain a safe environment. Highlight:
- Safety systems created
- Emergency procedures established
- Training required to stay certified
- Maintenance and safety checks scheduled
- Water quality checks completed
6. “Lifeguards in Action” collage:
Take pictures of staff “in action” and put a collage of images together
in a large picture frame that can be hung in the lobby.
7. “Be a Lifeguard” for the day event:
Plan an event at your facility and invite the community into having a “lifeguard” experience.
Try some of the suggested activities on the next page.
“Be a lifeguard for a day”
or call it
“Do you have what it takes to be a Lifeguard”
Suggested Activities:
The Swim Patrol Award Guide has “Learning Activities” (pgs 58-92) that can be used as
challenges for a Lifeguard Appreciation Day. Here’s some ideas to get you started.
1. Talk, Throw and Reach:
Purpose: Practice the bottom of the Rescue
Ladder. To have them demonstrate basic
water rescue techniques.
Supplies: Variety of reaching and throwing
assists. Targets: bleach bottled tied to a
weight or distances marked by lane ropes
Method: Have participants talk, throw or
reach the designated target(s).
2. Swim Race:
Purpose: Practice swimming while keeping
an eye on the victim.
Supplies: None or perhaps a chair on the
other side of the pool. Optional -clothing
Method: Have participants race the clock
(or each other) using either head up front
crawl or breaststroke. (Distances can vary
depending on age/ability)
3. Lifeguard Carry:
Purpose: Participants experience what it
takes to hold up a victim.
Supplies: Variety of weights: 5, 10 or 20 lbs
(can use sand inside a 2 litre pop bottle)
Method: Choose a weight appropriate to
age/ability. Have participants tread water
for a certain time. (Safety note: consider
depth of water based on their height or skill
level)
4. Lifeguard Carry:
Purpose: Experience what it takes to keep
someone’s airway above water during a tow.
Supplies: White Styrofoam cups
Method: Have participants swim across the
pool using a lifesaving kick holding a cup
just above the water. At the end of the
distance, measure out how much water is in
the cup.
5. What do you see?
Purpose: Develop observation skills.
Supplies: Place objects in the area to be
scanned (on deck, in water, lobby or in
bleachers)
Method: Have participants scan an area of
the pool for 15 seconds. Then have them
turn and draw a quick picture of what they
saw.
6. Rings and things:
Purpose: Surface dive to pick up objects off
the bottom.
Supplies: Diving rings, poker chips, or
coloured stones.
Method: Have participants retrieve varies
kinds of objects from the
bottom. Depth of water
depends on age/ability.
Lifesaving Society setting the standard and
training lifeguards in Canada since 1964
Primary Role of the NLS Lifeguard:
The primary role of the NLS lifeguard is the prevention of emergency situations and the timely
and effective resolution of emergencies. The NLS certification prepares lifeguards to fulfill this
role as professional facilitators of safe, enjoyable aquatics.
Lifesaving Society recognized as the standard setter for lifeguarding in Canada
The Lifesaving Society, which certifies all lifeguards across Canada with its National Lifeguard
(NLS) certification, is recognized nationally and internationally as the authority for aquatic
standards and safety in Canada. The NLS Award has become the ultimate standard for
lifeguarding in Canada and is recognized internationally by the Royal Life Saving Society
Commonwealth and International Life Saving Federation.
National Lifeguard training:
The Lifesaving Society’s National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Certification builds on the
fundamental skills, knowledge, and values taught in the prerequisite Society lifesaving
certifications, such as Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. The NLS program develops the basic
lifeguarding skills, principles, and decision-making process to help lifeguards evaluate and adapt
to different aquatic facilities and emergencies.
NLS award standard provides you protection
The NLS award is more than just a lifeguarding course and certification card used for
employment purposes. It develops the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards in
accordance to the Society’s position in areas of aquatic safety and industry standards. Employers
and their NLS certified lifeguards responding under the scope of their training will have the
Society’s full support.
The Society is called on to provide expert witness services to the Courts and other parties in the
areas of aquatic safety and industry standards. The Society’s testimony will reflect the
Lifesaving Society’s standards, publications and research into drowning and injury prevention,
water rescue and aquatic safety systems.
The NLS standard is backed by a full range of safety services provided by the Society that
support the design and operation of safe aquatic facilities that NLS trained lifeguards work in.
The Lifesaving Society has published a series of Safety Standards, when followed contribute
significantly to improved levels of safety in aquatic facilities. With the help of the Society,
facility operators can conduct Aquatic Safety Audits based on these Safety Standards ensuring
that the facility is following safe operating practices.