THE LIFEGUARD LEAP

Lifeguarding skills are not just for lifeguards; they form a body of knowledge essential to all water users and could be imperative should you find yourself faced with an emergency situation whilst having fun in the surf.

As surf girls we strive to feel confident out in the water, and there’s nothing like a big dose of learning, training and exam pressure to get you to the next stage. Becoming a qualified lifeguard doesn’t necessarily mean you get posted straight onto to the beach, if you complete the course there’s then further training before you can work for the RNLI, and if you’re taking the course in conjunction with a surf coaching qualification, there is also your instructors course and preliminary hours to complete.

Regardless if you’ve enrolled for employment purposes, the lifeguard course is bursting full of crucial first aid, coastal and emergency information.  It’s also great for team building, and improving your confidence full stop.  You will, without doubt, get to hang out with a great bunch of people all week, and chances are make some good friends. Surf Girl recently undertook a weeks NARS course with Era adventures, which was physically and mentally exhausting at times but an incredible challenge we can’t recommend enough!

The first day began with an introduction to the week, our instructors and the other participants.  We then headed straight for our first session on the beach which consisted of a 200 metre run, swim, run.  This was slightly daunting alone, even after a spot of training prior to the course, but also as conditions were huge with onshore waves, howling winds and a sweep taking you from North to South Fistral in 2 minutes flat.   Luckily our instructors were rather understanding, not expecting us to get outback with the rescue boards and moving the rescue area to the inside due to the crazy currents.

During the week the conditions dropped and we worked through rescues using the boards and peterson tubes, simulating conscious and unconscious casualties for each other in rotation.  We also learnt procedures for spinal injuries, CPR techniques for adults, children and infants as well as receiving extensive first aid training.

Our workbook contained all the theory work we needed – which we would go through daily in the classroom, and homework sheets provided all the revision needed for the upcoming exam. After a mock exam to clarify all the relevant information was in our brains and staying there, it was time to tackle the real thing.  And despite any nerves, anticipation and a foot injury – it was in the bag – we passed!

Stuart Parry from Era gives us the lowdown;

How old do you have to be to take the NARS and RLSS courses? 16 years old, but you need to be 18 before you can become a beach lifeguard.

What do the award allow you to do once you qualify? This qualification is the back bone to so many disciplines in outdoor water based activities such as surf coaching, coasteering and of course becoming a professional beach lifeguard for the RNLI.

How much are the courses and how often are they run? We run courses every week and the cost of the courses start around £235

How long do each of the courses take? 5-6 days depending on the course.

How long do the qualifications last for? RLSS is valid for 2 years, NARS you have to do a competency test yearly.

Check out www.era-adventures.co.uk for all the details

What Surf Girl noticed was the ratio of guys to girls; 2 girls to 8 guys.  But for any of you anxious about the divide, don’t let it hold you back.  The guys were super supportive and even though some were clearly stronger and fitter we never felt too far behind, and that they were always willing to wait for us to catch up. It would be great to see that ratio even out, so if you’re considering a change in career or are keen for a new challenge, then take it from us – the lifeguard course is well worth it!

Carve and SurfGirl have teamed up with Era Adventures with a special offer to anyone taking the lifeguarding leap.  Quote “Carve Mag” when booking your lifeguard course and receive a voucher to take a mountain bike course,  a coasteering session, a surf coaching session or a bodyboarding lesson absolutely free. Go to www.carvemag.com for further details or phone 01637 878074

Article by Natalie Fox. Photos by Mike Searle.

Tags: Era Adventures, lifeguard, NARS, Nat Fox