at HOOKSUM OUTDOOR SCHOOL

National Lifeguard (NL) Courses

Combined NL Waterfront and NL Surf Option
Next Session: TBA 2021

Hooksum Outdoor School is proud to be the only BC Lifesaving Society Affiliate to offer the NL Surf Option.

Recognized as the standard measure of lifeguard performance in Canada and in compliance of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) standard for lifeguarding, NL education is designed to develop a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgment, and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard. The primary role of the NL lifeguard is the prevention of emergency situations and, where this fails, the timely and effective resolution of emergencies.

The National Lifeguard Waterfront certification is designed to develop the fundamental values, judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness required by waterfront lifeguards. The NL Waterfront course emphasizes the lifeguarding skills, principles and practices, and the decision-making processes which will assist the lifeguard to provide effective safety supervision in waterfront environments.

Prerequisites:
NL Pool:  Need not be current but recommended
CPR C:  Recommended

Instructional Time: 
24 hours including open water and classroom time (not including breaks). Taught by a current NL Instructor who has held an NL Waterfront.

The National Lifeguard Surf certification is designed to develop the lifeguarding skills, principles and practices and the decision-making processes which will assist the lifeguard to provide effective safety supervision of surf beach environments. It builds on the fundamental values, judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness developed in the NL Waterfront certification. The NL Surf Option is specifically designed for lifeguards working in surf environments. Trainees need to work in waves of at least 1 meter and from a number of different types of beaches.

NL Surf Option Prerequisites
• NL Waterfront: Need not be current but recommended
• CPR C: Recommended

Instructional Time: 
24 hours including open water/surf conditions and classroom time (not including breaks). Taught by a current NL Instructor who has held an NL Surf.

NL Surf Physical Standards include:
• Run 100m with a rescue aid, enter water and swim 100m, to recover a conscious victim of similar size/weight and tow victim 100m (to shore) in 8 minutes or less.
• Approach up to 5m on the beach, enter water to waist deep, turn over and recover a passive or unconscious victim, return to shore and carry (drag) without assistance 15m from water’s edge.
• Run 200m, swim 200m, run 200m in 8 minutes or less.