Life saving classes

rara 2

hey i was wondering if anybody knows of any life saving classes in north dublin.. thank you.

Killgore Trout

http://www.facebook.com/Donaghmede.Vikings.IWS

http://www.facebook.com/people/Crc-WaterSafety/100000776183764

kris71

Any goals that you have?
example: do you want to learn lifesaving skills or do you want to get pool/beach? lifeguard qualifications

rara 2

i would to get my pool / beach qulifications just unsure where to start?

kris71

next question would be do you want to do it fast or do you want to do it properly + where exactly do you want to work afterwards

rara 2

defo properly.. i used to teach chikdrens classes and would love to get back in to that but i never finished life saving so i think it would be a good idea to do it + ive always wanted to finish it

kris71

Well if properly then IWS is the answer nothing against RLSS whole theory and first aid is in my opinion even better in RLSS but when it comes to rescue and water based skills IWS simply focus more on it. However some employers have their own point of view on that and they prefer one over another, hard to say witch one as it varies I have both but I'm a freak ;P

I've done my iws course with Donaghmede and I can def recommend them but I've heard crc is good as well so pick the one thats closer to your whereabouts.
However be prepared that it will take a while before you will go through all safety and rescue awards, its good fun tho

thesimpsons

I've my son signed into IWS classes and they were all talk about Swim 1 and Swim 2 progressing to Swim 4, etc I forgot to ask what these actually mean and can't find info on the IWS webing site. He's also starting life saving classes in the autumn and these were recommended as a starting point. Anyone tell me what these mean (I'm guessing they are probably pre-life saving classes ???) thanks

doherta5

From memory Swim 1, 2 etc are competencies in strokes, treading water, that kind of thing.

Have I missed the boat with lifesaving classes or are they all finished for the Summer, does anyone know?

the_syco

doherta5 wrote: »

Have I missed the boat with lifesaving classes or are they all finished for the Summer, does anyone know?

From memory, I recall there being water safety classes of some sort that go on for 2 weeks which are based on rivers/lakes/beach, which is IWS certified?

Goto http://www.dublinwatersafety.ie and click "Courses" on the left hand side.

doherta5

That's great, thanks for the link!

LifesaverNiall

If your looking for a lifesaving club none better than St. John Berchmans, we train in sportslink in Santry but we're on summer break until mid august/ end of august i think

lorcan122

kris71 wrote: »

Well if properly then IWS is the answer nothing against RLSS whole theory and first aid is in my opinion even better in RLSS but when it comes to rescue and water based skills IWS simply focus more on it. However some employers have their own point of view on that and they prefer one over another, hard to say witch one as it varies I have both but I'm a freak ;P

I've done my iws course with Donaghmede and I can def recommend them but I've heard crc is good as well so pick the one thats closer to your whereabouts.
However be prepared that it will take a while before you will go through all safety and rescue awards, its good fun tho

Sorry to say this Kris but you are completely wrong most IWS courses don't even train there lifeguards in the use of a spinal board, most pools are only accepting the RLSS as it is more in depth and it teaches you the things you need properly.

If you want to know about courses go onto http://www.lifeguardsireland.com/courses.htm

doherta5

So, if one wants to become a lifeguard, how far would one have to be on in their training before applying for RLSS?

lorcan122

In the RLSS you don't have training you just do a course, but you must be able to swim.

kris71

Hi Lorcan

I'm currently qualified through both and from my experience they all have their strong and weak points. Hope you've done IWS course as well, otherwise you really shouldn't be making any statements.

On my IWS course we had spinal board. If there is no spinal board available on site RLSS will still approve it as a training center and allows lifeguards to complete the course without seeing a spinal board, all written down on examination paper including instruction on what other things should be examined in that case. Unless that was change in a last few months

To be perfectly honest picking up on a spinal board would be the last thing that I would go for. Try to dig up some statistics on how often are spinal boards being used outside of training purposes %) I seriously cant imagine myself, a real life situation where I could use a spinal board (edit: sorry they work really nice as a stretcher) Breathing is still a priority over spinal, the way the whole drill is being designed - you are picking up a face down cas (obviously unconscious most likely no breathing) tow them in a vice grip 10-15m (slowest possible way to move with cas) 20-60 seconds lost depending on a lifeguard with a really good team after 3min you will get cas out of the water thats around 4 minutes all together and if your cas is not breathing at this stage they are most likely dead.
Spinal board is the biggest scam I've ever seen, it might work magic with people who fell of the steps but a cas picked up from the face down position should be landed and assessed asap as you are racing against time and you already have a nasty handicap on you.

lorcan122 wrote: »

most pools are only accepting the RLSS

I would like to know what swimming pool would not accept IWS qualifications, name one please.

Sometimes RLSS tutors are failing IWS lifeguards during internal competency tests on stupid little things that are not making any difference on the end of the day but are just done a bit differently in IWS. To be right on this matter I have to say that IWS tutors do the same thing but in a bit more sophisticated way. I'm not going to give out any examples of those practices as they would be giving out few people that I know and have a great respect to (both RLSS and IWS tutors) For me this whole situation is a bit silly but as a foreigner it isn't really my businesses. I'm sure they both have reasons to hate each other so badly even tho they are both working hard to save lives.

lorcan122 wrote: »

it is more in depth and it teaches you the things you need properly.

Hm in depth - on theory yes def not in practice
and if you truly believe that IWS(Irish governing body for lifesaving) is not teaching things properly then I will have to ask for some evidence or at least examples

lorcan122 wrote: »

In the RLSS you don't have training you just do a course, but you must be able to swim.

I'm sorry but I couldn't stop laughing on that one, well ok you have to be able to swim, but you don't have to be a good swimmer witch is my bone with RLSS really.


Here is the way I see it: RLSS is a commercial organization that makes a fortune on lifesaving, they will teach you need to know basics and they will make sure you wont drown swimming 2 lengths, give you a cert and good luck. What I like the most in it is efficiency and professionalism

IWS is a voluntary organization focused on increasing water safety in Ireland. They will teach you a few things differently from RLSS but it works more or less same, in addition you will make friends with a lot of fantastic people as IWS is a large community of voluntaries dedicated to water safety and good fun . I enjoyed my IWS course much more even tho it was a pain in the a.. to drive an hour one way every weak to do a bit of swimming and a bit of theory

In RLSS you are being a customer in IWS you are part of a family

So the right choice depends on what you are looking for,rlss: fast and easy, in and out, of to work (ideal for gym instructors etc. who needs to make up some extra hours on the pool deck) IWS: lifetime experience with lifesaving (ideal for young people who are not in a rush or under pressure from employers to get lifeguarding qualifications done on yesterday)