Water Safety

Level 1

• Explain why everyone must be careful when playing near water.
• Explain how to protect yourself from the sun.

Level 2

• Explain the dangers in the home especially for young children and explain what can be done to make the home safer.
• Explain what can happen if a person falls into water with their clothes on.

Level3

• Describe the locations of most drowning in Britain and give reasons why swimmers drown.
• List the differences between the pool and the water outside.

Level 4

• Give a 5 minute talk about water safety or lifesaving.
• Explain how long humans can normally survive without oxygen.

Level 1

• Demonstrate an entry and explain when that entry is used.
• Explain what to do if a boat capsizes.
• With a floating aid demonstrate the HUDDLE  position with at least three other swimmers for 3 minutes. One Rookie at the time will give the International Distress Signal.
• Tread water for 4 minutes giving the International distress Signal.
• Catch a rope, be pulled to the side and be instructed in how to get out.
• Demonstrate a fall in.
• Timed swim. In less than 6 minutes 30seconds swim 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres Side Stroke, during this perform 2 Surface dives. On one occasion, swim 2 metres underwater.

Level 2

• Tread water, shouting for help and giving the International Distress Signal for 4 minutes.
• With a floating aid hold the HELP position for 4 minutes giving the International Distress Signal.
• Swim 30 metres fully dressed using only one leg.
• Remove items of clothing, tie them together and throw to a rescuer on land.
• Describe 4 distress signals and demonstrate two of them.
• Explain why the HELP and HUDDLE position conserves hest and when they should be used.

Level 3

• Explain what to do with several people in the water.
• Surface dive and swim around in a circle to search and return safely to the surface at the point of dive.
• Swim 100 meters without stopping while looking regularly at the destination.
• Timed swim. In less than 12 minutes swim 200 metres free style and 200 metres side strioke or Lifesaving Backstroke during this perform 3 Surface dives. On one occasion swim 3 metres under water.
• Explain under what conditions clothes should be removed and which clothes should be left on.

Level 4

• Swim underwater wearing blacked-out goggles through a hoop.
• Without moving from the spot, remove clothes and leave them in the water.
• Swim 100 metres towards the side stopping occasionally to shout for help and to keep an eye on your destination.
• Instruct a person on how to help you out of the water.
• Explain what to do if a car falls into the water.
• Timed swim. In less than 14 minutes swim250 metres free style and 250 metres Side Stroke or Lifesaving Backstroke during this perform 4 Surface dives. On one occasion, swim3 metres under water.

Level 1

• Recognise a non-swimmer, weak swimmer, unconscious and injured swimmer in the water.
• Perform a Reach Rescue of a non-swimmer.
• Perform a Throw Rescue with a floating aid to a weak swimmer and secure the casualty in a position of safety.
• Swim 75 metres to an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow for 35 metres.
• Perform an assisted lift.
• Open airway, check breathing and check circulation on a casualty in the water.
• Timed Rescue. In less than 6 minutes 30 seconds perform a swim with an Aid Rescue (non-contact) with casualty 100 metres away and tow the casualty 50 metres.

Level 2

• Perform a Wade Rescue, help the casualty to shallow water and then out.
• Enter the water swim and surface dive for an object. Swap the object with an casualty and tow 50 metres.
• Swim 60 metres to a casualty and perform a Swim with an Aid Rescue (non-contact) for 50 metres. Put the casualty in the Support position and instruct a bystander on how to help the casualty out of the water.
• Perform a rescue in a simulated emergency.
• Swim 100 metres to an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow Rescue using an Extended tow for 50 metres.
• Demonstrate Rescue Breathing in the water while wading.

Level 3

• Perform a rescue after having constructed a rescue aid from things available.
• Perform an assisted lift with three helpers.
• Demonstrate how to check airway, breathing and circulation on an unconscious casualty in the water.
• Explain why it is important to talk to a casualty.
• Perform a stirrup lift.
• Timed rescue. In less than 10 minutes swim 150 metres, perform a Surface dive to recover an object or a manikin from the bottom. Swap it for an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow Rescue and tow the casualty 75 metres.

Level 4

• Demonstrate the actions of two kinds of casualties.
• Perform the Back-off, take up the Stand-off position and explain when to use it.
• Swim 60 metres to a casualty and perform a Swim with an Aid Rescue (accompanied) for 50 metres.
• Swim 100 metres to a casualty and perform a Swim with an Aid Rescue
  (non-contact) for 75 metres and help the casualty to climb out.
• Put a casualty in the support position.
• Swim 125 metres to an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow Rescue using a Support Tow for 75 metres.
• Discuss what aftercare is.

Level 1

• Demonstrate what to do for a sprained ankle.
• Explain the treatment for an insect or marine sting.
• Explain the symptoms and treatment for drowning.
• Demonstrate how to apply a dressing and bandage to a cut arm.
• Discuss what information to give to the paramedics when they arrive.

Level 2

• Demonstrate how to check for danger, response and shouting for help. Demonstrate how to open the airway and check for breathing.
• Demonstrate the correct action in a case where the pulse is absent.
• Demonstrate how to turn a casualty from back to front.
• Demonstrate Rescue Breathing using mouth to nose.
• Demonstrate CPR for 1 minute and the action for vomiting.

Level 3

• Explain the symptoms and explain the treatment for Hypothermia.
• Explain and demonstrate the treatment for choking and vomiting.
• Demonstrate the treatment for a faint.
• Explain how to treat a foreign body in an eye.

Level 4

• Assess the casualty and perform CPR for 2 minutes.
• Explain the symptoms and demonstrate the treatment for a heart attack and shock.
• Discuss why hygiene is important.
• Explain the priorities when dealing with more than one casualty. 

Star Grade 4 – Summary Award

Water Safety

• Explain how to protect yourself from the sun.
• Explain the dangers in the home especially for young children and explain what can be done to make the home safer.
• List the differences between the pool and water outside.
• Give a 5 minute talk about water safety of lifesaving.

Self Rescue

• Explain what to do if your boat capsizes.
• Demonstrate a fall in.
• When dresses, hold the help position for 4 minutes giving the International Distress Signal, then remove clothes.
• Explain what to do with several people in the water.
• Swim underwater with blacked-out goggles through a hoop.
• Instruct a person in how to help you out of the water.
• Explain what to do if a car falls into the water.
• Timed swim. In less than 14 minutes swim 250 metres free style and 250 metres Side Stroke or Lifesaving Backstroke during this perform 4 Surface Dives. On one occasion, swim 3 metres underwater.

Rescue

• Recognise a non-swimmer, weak swimmer, unconscious and injured swimmer in the water.
• Put a casualty in the support position and perform an assisted lift, and a stirrup lift.
• Open airway, check breathing, check circulation and give Rescue Breathing to a casualty in water.
• Swim 100 metres to an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow Rescue using a Support Tow, Clothing Tow or Extended Tow for 50 metres.
• Perform a Back-off, take up the Stand-off position and explain when to use it.
• Swim 100 metres to a casualty and perform a Swim with an Aid Rescue (non-contact) or (accompanied) for 75 metres and help the casualty to climb out.
• Discuss what aftercare is.
• Timed rescue. In less than 10 minutes swim 150 metres, perform a Surface dive to recover an object or a manikin from the bottom. Swap it for an unconscious casualty and perform a Swim and Tow Rescue and tow the casualty 75 Metres.

Emergency Response
Rookies can gain the RLSS UK Support 1 Award, this is equivalent to requirements A – E for Star Grade 4 Summary Award in Emergency Response. The Rookie will need to be assessed by an RLSS UK assessor to gain this award.

• Show how to check for danger, response and shouting for help.
   Show how to open the airway, check for breathing and circulation.
   Demonstrate Rescue Breathing using both mouth to nose and mouth to mouth.
• Demonstrate how to turn a casualty from front to back and put in the Recovery position.
• Assess the casualty and demonstrate CPR.
• Demonstrate the action for vomiting.
• Explain the symptoms and explain the treatment for choking, hypothermia, heart attack, drowning, bleeding and shock.
•  Explain the priorities when dealing with more than one casualty.
• Explain the treatment for an insect or marine sting and a foreign body in the eye.
• Demonstrate the treatment for a faint and a sprained ankle.