Become a certified lifeguard

HOW TO BECOME A LIFEGUARD?

This may appear to be a ‘dream job’, spending your working hours on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, but there’s more to being a lifeguard. You must hold and maintain the valid qualifications, pass regular fitness and competency tests and be willing and able to take on the responsibility of keeping hundreds and perhaps thousands of beach goers safe.

Procedure for Certification Scheme:

1.0 Purpose

To describe a procedure for development and maintenance of certification scheme covered under the scope of business of the company and as per ISO/IEC 17024:2012 certification process and Dubai Municipality Public health & Safety Department lifeguard Scheme Requirement Issue No.1 

2.0 Scope

This procedure applicable for all certification scheme.

3.0 Responsibility

1. 1. Operation Manager is responsible for ensuring implementation of this procedure throughout the certification scheme process.
   2. Decision Maker is responsible for making decision for granting certificate, re-certificate and renewal of certificate.
   3. Administration Executive is responsible for receiving application, reviewing application to ensure applicant meets the requirement and providing information to Examiner. Also, he is responsible for maintaining all records of applicant, certification, examination and other relevant to comply with requirement of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 certification process.
   4. Examiners is responsible for conducting examination, preparation and submission of examination reports to Operation Manager and Decision Maker for making decision.

1. Description of activity

4.1 Certification Pre-Requisite 

1. 1. 1. Following pre-requisite required for person to be certified;

LIFEGUARD ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND PRE-REQUISITES

• Lifeguard candidate aspiring to be certified as per Dubai Municipality standards needs to go through a qualifying examination.
• To be eligible for assessment the candidate must fulfil the under-mentioned prerequisites
• Candidate may enroll for assessment independently or be registered for assessment through any of the application with necessary qualification data

PRIOR TO EXAMINATION ENROLLMENT THE CANDIDATE NEEDS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROOF OF THE FOLLOWING:

• MUST BE 16 YEARS OF AGE 

1. Must be able to swim continuously in a strong manner for:    

• Shallow water Lifeguard: 50m nonstop in a comfortable manner in under 1.5m depth. 
• Pool Lifeguard: 100m nonstop in a comfortable manner in over 1.5m depth   

Beach/ Water front Lifeguard: 200m nonstop in a comfortable manner for a Beach/Waterfront Lifeguard.

B. Perform a surface dive and recover a 4-kg weight at a depth of:   

• 1.5m for a Shallow Water Lifeguard, where shallow water means that the depth is maximum 1.5m.   
• 3m, or to the deepest depth of the facility in which they will be lifeguarding for a Pool Lifeguard, where Pools means that the depth is more than 1.5m    
• 5m for Beach/Waterfront Lifeguard. 

C. Tread water for at least: 

• 5 minutes for Pool lifeguards;   
• 10 minutes for Beach lifeguards.

1. 1. 1.2.Examination and Assessment   

WRITTEN/ORAL EXAMINATIONS:   

• The lifeguard written or oral examination consist of a 

1. Core examination (pertaining to general lifeguard duties)  70% Minimum score required
2. Specialty category(s) (pertaining to shallow water, pool or beach lifeguard duties- whichever is applicable)) 70% Minimum score required 

All candidates are required to take the Core Examination, regardless of the Specialty(s) in which they wish to be certified.   

The lifeguard specialty examinations can be divided into three main groups:   

· Shallow water lifeguard   · Pool lifeguard   · Beach /Beach front lifeguard   

The core and specialty theory examination may be administered separately or combined on one exam.  Exams shall be official exams from the certification agency. Exams shall be in multiple choice formats The exam may be administered orally only if the material and/or the exams are not available in the language the candidate can understand or if the candidate cannot read or write.

PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS   Weight age- 100% required to pass

In addition to the skills in which each candidate will be examined on, final scenario/s shall be administered to assess the competence level of the lifeguard candidate.  The scenario/s may include: 

1. In-water rescue
2. Water exit extrication 
3. Pool/beach side rescue
4. The use of spine board 
5. Out of water first aid/BLS for adult, child and infants
6. The use of AED and Emergency Oxygen kit use (as a highly recommended skill).   

Minimum education requirements:    none. 

4.3 Qualification of personnel for certification    

4.3.1 Examiners has following competency:

1. 1. High school level education,
   2. Have experience as a lifeguard for two years and as an instructor or examiner for at least two years. If the examiner does not have prior experience as instructor or examiner or is short of experience then total five years working experience as lifeguard may be acceptable.

1. Valid BLS & first aid qualification

1. Familiar with the relevant certification scheme,
2. Knowledge of the relevant examination methods and examination documents,
3. Attended training courses/sessions on how to conduct an examination for the scheme,
4. is free from any interest so that he can make impartial and non-discriminatory judgments (assessments)

1. 1. 1. Requirements for other personnel involved in the assessment
         1. Decision Maker having following competency;

1. 1. High school level education,
   2. Have experience as a lifeguard for two years and as an instructor or examiner for at least two years. If the examiner does not have prior experience as instructor or examiner or is short of experience, then total five years working experience as lifeguard may be acceptable.
2. Valid BLS & first aid qualification
3. Familiar with the relevant certification scheme,
4. Knowledge of the relevant examination methods and examination documents,
5. Attended training courses/sessions on how to conduct an examination for the scheme,
6. is free from any interest so that he can make impartial and non-discriminatory judgments (assessments)
7. a thorough knowledge of the relevant certification scheme.
8. For complete details for certification process please clickhere . 

For Complaint and Appeal please contact us with your reference No. to  info@drassa-ss.com  

For certificate verification please contact us with certificate reference No. to  Certificate@drassa-ss.com