NPLQ Course Study Elements

Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision

Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law,

Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures

Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision

Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans,

Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue

Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury,

Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan

Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid

Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR),

Element 2 - First Aid Element 3 - Defibrillation (AED)

OPEN WATER LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION (OWL)

Scheme of Work - Day Planner.

*This is a guide and is subject to change, not all details are listed and this is with approximate times.

The open water lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision.

DAY 1

08:00-12:00

Theory Sessions

• Course introduction, Roles & responsibilities, Open Water Lifeguard: Procedures,

Sun and skin safety

• Equipment, First Aid kit, Rescue equipment and Human powered craft.

• Priorities of casualty management, Chain of survival, Turning a casualty onto the back,

Managing regurgitation of stomach contents and Recovery position

• Heat related illness, Lifeguard welfare, LIfeguard and the law, Working as a team, Powered craft

12:45-16:00

Water Sessions

Water Theory

Emergencies and open water

How to spot a casualty:

Weak swimmer, Non-swimmer, Inured swimmer, More than one casualty, Unconscious casualty and 

Approaching a casualty

Water Session

Ways to enter open water, Swimming in open water, Approaching a casualty, Standoff position

Escaping from a casualty: Front grasp, Rear grasp and General principles of escape

Water Session

Rescue of a conscious casualty

Land based rescues: Reaching, Throwing and Wading

DAY 2

08:00-12:00

Theory Sessions

• Open water hazards, Environmental and premisis hazards, Tasks and activity hazards

• People hazards, Communications, Working with emergency services, Signals and whistles

Recording and reporting

• Cardiac arrest, Principles of airway management, Sequence of CPR - adult Choking

• Drowning and CPR, Sequence of CPR - child and infant (baby) CPR

CPR using a pocket mask, Problems with CPR, Mouth-to-nose ventilation

More than one rescuer and CPR

• Priorities of first aid, Contents of a first aid box, Hygiene procedures

History, symptoms and signs, Emergency Action, After the accident/incident

12:45-16:00

Water Sessions

Water Session

Water based rescues:

Rescuing a conscious casualty with a torpedo buoy,

Rescue without a torpedo buoy, Extended arm tow

Rescue of an unconscious casualty: Turning an unconscious casualty,

Reaching a casualty under water, Swimming underwater

Water Session

Rescue of an unconscious casualty with a torpedo buoy

Casualty exits: Assisted walk out, Assisted lift, Pull ashore, Two-person carry

Search for missing swimmer

DAY 3

08:00-10:00

Theory Sessions

Open Water Lifeguard and Management Methods: Positions, Zoning, Scanning, Head counting

Responding to an emergency and taking action

Unconscious casualty, Shock, Breathing problems, Dressings and bandages with Bleeding.

10:15-11:15

Water Sessions

Incident training

11:45-12:45

Theory Sessions

Medical Conditions, Fractures, Slings and injuries.

13:00-17:00

Assessments

Open Water Lifeguard Qualification

Course Schedule