NPLQ - National Pool Lifeguard Qualification

...a disease---

NPLQ stands for "National Pool Lifeguard Qualification" and it's what you get when you pass the test. It's a professional qualification entitling you to work in any indoor or outdoor pool or leisure centre. I'm sure everyone's seen those strange, usually good looking people (sorry I couldn't resist!) who stand around in public pools for apparently no reason, occasionally telling you to stop running or blowing ...
...believe doing something like the NPLQ is an amazing experience, and I have never regretting doing it. If altruism isn't your thing, then I'll tell you that I've seen jobs for lifeguards in London offering up to £7-£8 per hour. Not bad for a 16 year old! You will have to renew your licence every 2 years, but you have all of those 2 years to do half the amount of training, so it's ok. It also makes a great part time job, if you're at University; it's ... more

Ok, this is going to be a long review, so get yourself a cup of tea, maybe put on some light music, and most importantly: keep reading! I am a fully qualified pool lifeguard and I'd like to share my experience of it with anyone who cares to read. The effect it's had on me is not a small one.

First, some background info

---NPLQ - no, it's not a disease---

NPLQ stands for "National Pool Lifeguard Qualification" and it's what you get when you pass the test. It's a professional qualification entitling you to work in any indoor or outdoor pool or leisure centre. I'm sure everyone's seen those strange, usually good looking people (sorry I couldn't resist!) who stand around in public pools for apparently no reason, occasionally telling you to stop running or blowing a whistle. But what do they actually do? Surely they have better things to do than stand around in those ridiculously tight red shorts and gaze around the pool. Well that's what I'm going to explain to you, exactly what they do, why they do it, and how you can do it too!

---RLSS - Oh so many acronyms!---

Ok, RLSS stands for "Royal Life Saving Society", and these are the kind people who run the scheme, providing learning materials, the assessors and the tight red shorts. Of course they do a lot more than that, but that's a little bit beyond the scope of this review.

The Lifeguard

---Prerequisites---

•First and foremost, you need to be able to swim. Stop moaning, I know this is obvious, but I have heard of people applying for the course, only to be disappointed because they soon realise they can't swim.

•You must be 16 or over. I'm not entirely sure why they chose this particular age, but they did. If you're younger than 16, there are other things you can do until you are. Keep reading though; it might be useful one day! Just enjoy being under 16!

•You must be physically fit. Yes well this one is dubious. One person's definition of fit is vastly different from someone else's. As long as you can pass the physical test then you're fine, and it really isn't that demanding! I should stress that by "fit" I do mean in good physical condition, rather than "someone you'd like to pull at the pub", although the two are not mutually exclusive!

---What does a lifeguard actually do?---

Ok, many of you will now be thinking, "Yes, I have seen Baywatch, I know what it's all about: you sit in a big chair, occasionally flirting." While this is all true, there's oh so much more! The role of the lifeguard is essentially to ensure the safety of the pool users - basically to make sure no one drowns. If a lifeguard spots a swimmer lying face down at the bottom of the pool, not moving, it is his or her job to do the following:

•Retrieve the casualty by any necessary means, in this case diving in and dragging them up to the surface;

•With the help of a team, remove the casualty from the water onto the side;

•Administer first aid until an ambulance arrives.

I should point out that this is a very basic run down of events! Of course, if the casualty was playing around, I believe the lifeguard should have the right to slap them, but unfortunately we don't. Please don't play dead! It's really hard for us to tell sometimes!

The above is extremely rare, most people can swim, and if something does go wrong, it's invariably cramp - nothing too life threatening unless the casualty starts to panic! The lifeguard is really there to maintain the status quo, maybe do some light cleaning, and watch. A lot of what I do is simply administrative.

The Course - 40 hours of joy

This is the part you're all interested in, I can tell. Go on, lean forward a little, scratch your chin out of curiosity, I won't mind. I'm going to break down the course as much as possible into its constituent sections, to make it easier to understand.

The test is in two parts, so the training has been designed around these two areas: practical and theory.

Practical

---Rescue - to dive or not to dive?---

The methods of rescuing a casualty vary depending on his condition and location. For example if the casualty has cramp (a common affliction) in his leg, and is treading water with the other, then a throw rope or a pole is probably your best bet. You don't want to get wet after all! If there's a casualty floating unconscious in the pool, you will have to dive in and tow them to safety. If you suspect the casualty has a spinal injury then you really have to be careful.

To give you a rough idea on what tows involve, here are some examples:

•Extended tow - put your straight arm under the casualty's chin and swim sideways.

•Under arm support - put your bent arm under the casualty's arm and swim sideways; this keeps the casualty's head out of the water more effectively.

•Hip support - put your arm around the casualty's waist and swim

•Under shoulder support - put your arm around the casualty's chest and swim.

All of these are covered in detail in the training, so you'll know exactly what to use and when.

As I mentioned, spinal injuries can occur, and if you suspect one, then the rules change. Most pools are equipped with a spinal board, which is used to completely immobilise the spine of the casualty. Provided your training centre has one, you will learn how to use the spinal board. There are also specialised tows for use on casualties with spinal injuries, for example the vice grip. The vice grip is one of the most evil things ever devised, and takes rather a lot of practice, but as with most things, practice makes…better!

Right then, you've dived in to save someone, you've towed them to the side and now you have to get them out. If you're in the deep end you need to call for help and use their help to get out, using an "assisted lift". If you're in the shallow end, you might be able to do it yourself.

Well, I think you get the idea on the various different forms of rescue. It really is quite extensive, and takes an awful lot of practice, but it is very much worth it in the end.

---Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - pucker up!---

I pondered long and hard over whether to put this in the theory or practical section, since it is first aid, but you have to actually do it rather than talk about it. CPR is an extremely important part of the course, and even once you've passed you will probably have to demonstrate regularly that you are still capable.

CPR is performed on a patient who is unconscious, not breathing, and whose heart is not beating. It involves compressing the chest and breathing for the casualty in the ratio of 15 compressions to 2 breaths, 15:2, or 5:1 for juniors and infants. I've heard lately that these ratios might be changed sometime in the future for something more like 30:2, but for now, 15:2 stands. Practicing CPR in a group is always immensely funny to the people watching as they watch you flinch from the taste of the antiseptic wipes! Ok maybe it was only me who laughed, I really am that mature!

Theory

---First Aid - not as much fun as live aid---

I'm terribly sorry for the appalling quality of jokes I'm forcing in with a crowbar, I'll do my best to control myself in the future! First aid is essential, and by far the most valuable thing I have taken away from my training. You will learn how to handle a wide range of situations, from hypothermia to cramp, from a broken arm to secondary drowning. I have no intention of going through every single first aid technique and method you will learn, there's simply too much to go through!

I will tell you the 3Ps though, the principles of first aid:

•To preserve life
•To prevent the situation from getting worse
•To promote casualty recovery

Of all the things I learned, the first aid stands out. True, learning how to tow a casualty, or throw a rope, or even tread water properly are all fine, but outside the job, first aid is a great thing to have. I now feel that if something happens to someone I care about, I can do something, and not panic.

---Pool Rules - bring on the coffee---

Ah zoning, this is where the fun ends. You even get taught how to watch the pool, using extensive and intensive zoning. Extensive zoning is when lifeguards watch the whole pool at the same time, and intensive zoning is when each lifeguard watches a single area of the pool and nothing else. The handbook suggests the "10:20 system" of watching, meaning that you cover a zone in the pool in 10 seconds, and are able to reach the casualty within 20.

You will also have to be aware of the NOP and EAP - Normal Operating Plans and Emergency Actions Plans. The NOP is a document which outlines the normal operations of the pool, when to open, when to close, pool capacity, timetables etc. The EAP will list emergency numbers, where the fire exits are and what do to in various emergency situations. I've never had to use the EAP, and hopefully I never will! Similarly I hope I never have to use my knowledge of basic first aid, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The Test - please don't cry

I'm sorry to have to use the 't' word, tell you what; I'll call it an assessment. That's much less scary! The assessment is divided into two sections, theory and practical. When I took it, the practical assessment came first (which just meant I was tired for the theory, great!).

---The Practical - get set!---

The physical part will involve you rescuing two casualties (known in the business as "bodies"), so invite a friend to help you out, preferably a light friend! You'll have to swim a certain length, and tow a conscious casualty back in a certain time. You'll then have to swim a certain length, rescue an unconscious casualty, and swim to the side in less time. You will probably have to use the vice grip on a casualty with a spinal injury and swim about 10 metres. This is extremely tiring! You will also have to rescue a conscious casualty without entering the pool, and if you have the option, use the throw rope, it's much easier! You will also have to perform well as a group with the spinal board. Just remember be gentle, and to remember the order of the straps, just think "Green to go, then head to toe!"

Aren't I full of useful information? It is possible you will also have to do an assisted lift with another lifeguard in the making. That pretty much covers most of it, there might be the odd rescue that will be at the assessor's discretion.

---The Theory---

The theory will be done as a group. You will each be asked in turn various first aid questions, and the assessor is usually quite nice about giving you the odd hint or something. They do realise that you'll be nervous. I remember I messed up on one question, and we were all a little rusty on first aid, so the assessor signed us off on the practical and came back later that week to test us on the theory. My question that I got wrong was "what do you do with a casualty who is bleeding from their head", and I said" lie them down"….needless to say this is NOT what you do! I soon learned, and passed!

Then comes the CPR. Yes it was all well and good doing all that practice, and if you did the practice, you'll be fine. If you didn't get round to it, then good luck to you! You will have to perform CPR on all three dummies, the adult, the junior and the infant. Please be careful with the infant dummy, they're quite delicate! I once saw someone jump on one…..*crack*.

You will also have to demonstrate your versatile use of the triangular bandage. Can you do a normal sling? An elevated sling? Can you make a rudimentary fishing net? Ok that one's pushing it a bit! One tip: tie a knot in the short corner of the triangular bandage, that way you'll know which end it is quickly, and it'll help support the elbow in the sling.

Life after the test - phew

You can get employed anywhere in the country, and during the summer at least, most places are practically begging for extra lifeguards. If you do work in an outdoor pool in summer, remember to take water and some sun cream! You'll have the sunburn from hell if you don't.

The skills you learn are the kind that will stick with you forever, and it is very much worth renewing your licence. I will forever be grateful that I know how to cope in a first aid situation, and I'm going to be doing the first aid at work course soon as well, to consolidate it. I can think of no better skill in life, than to be able to save one.

---------

I realise I have been going on a bit now, and if you're still conscious now, then congratulations! The reason I've put so much heart, soul and information into this review is because I believe doing something like the NPLQ is an amazing experience, and I have never regretting doing it. If altruism isn't your thing, then I'll tell you that I've seen jobs for lifeguards in London offering up to £7-£8 per hour. Not bad for a 16 year old! You will have to renew your licence every 2 years, but you have all of those 2 years to do half the amount of training, so it's ok. It also makes a great part time job, if you're at University; it's not too bad to work around your lectures.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this, I know I enjoyed writing it. Give it a try: you'll have a valuable skill for life.

Thanks for reading.

Michael

www.lifesavers.org.uk/iql/iqlandnplq.htm
www.lifeguardskills.co.uk/

 

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