Water Lifesaving
The ability to swim, acquired through a structured program, is a vital skill that enhances aquatic competencies and aids in preventing drowning. However, when it comes to water safety, merely knowing how to swim is insufficient. While swimming skills can reduce fear of water, individuals often overestimate their swimming capabilities. According to the World Conference on Drowning Prevention, an estimated 66% of the over 360,000 individuals who drown worldwide each year had swimming skills. This overconfidence often leads to risky behaviors, such as swimming alone or beyond one’s physical capability, and tragically, would-be rescuers often become victims themselves. As the saying goes, “Being able to swim is not the same as being able to survive a drowning event, just as most people can run but that doesn’t mean they can complete a marathon.”
Course Overview
Water Lifesaving encompasses rescue, resuscitation, and first aid. It pertains to water safety and aquatic rescue, which are not confined to swimming pools but also extend to floods, rivers, lakes, and seas. Water lifesaving also denotes a sport where lifesavers compete based on skills, speed, and teamwork. Volunteers participating in lifesaving activities are known as lifesavers, while professionals employed for lifesaving activities are referred to as lifeguards.
At Optimum Train, we equip our swimmers to become certified lifesavers through our water lifesaving program. Our syllabus and certification are recognized by the Life Saving Society Malaysia (LSSM) and the International Life Saving Federation (ILSF).
6 Essential Skills
- Recognition of situation & identification of casualty types
- Land-based rescue method – reaching, throwing with equipment
- Water-based rescue method – safe entry, swim, and tow with or without equipment, the approach of casualty, defensive actions
- Recovery & transport of the casualty to safety
- Underwater search & rescue techniques
- Knowledge & application of EAR, CPR, first aid equipment and treatment
9 Certification Levels
- Elementary Award
- Intermediate Award
- Expired Air Resuscitation Award (EAR)
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Award (CPR)
- Bronze Medallion
- International Lifesaver (ILS)
- Award of Merit
- Distinction Award
- Instructor’s Certificate
Prerequisites for Our Water Lifesaving Training
Candidates wishing to join our water lifesaving program must possess a certain level of swimming skills. We recommend that candidates complete our Level 4 Learn to Swim program, or at the very least, be able to swim 50 meters freestyle and breaststroke effortlessly. This ensures that candidates are physically fit and skilled enough to handle the training intensity and keep pace with the program’s progress.