If you want to work in a safe, enjoyable and rewarding environment, you could work in a leisure facility or health club as a lifeguard.

You could be a keen swimmer or local swim school volunteer, or perhaps you work in a gym that has a swimming pool; many people who have a career within leisure begin as lifesavers, then move their way upwards through the industry developing their skills with further training.

This course is aimed at people who would like to become a pool lifeguard. Learners must be able to swim completely and be able to surface dive down to the deepest part of the bottom of the pool floor.Learners are required to undertake CPR and First Aid techniques as well as pool rescue skills throughout the course.

On successful completion of the course, learners will be issued with a STA International Pool Lifeguard Certificate.

On successful completion of the course, learners will:

  • Be able to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation for an adult sudden collapse casualty, drowning casualty, child and infant casualty
  • Be able to perform first aid for an unconscious casualty including the recovery position and aftercare
  • Be able to administer first aid for a range of conditions / injures including choking, bleeding, burns, muscle and bone injuries as well as medical conditions
  • Be able to perform poolside rescue skills
  • Be able to perform in water rescue skills including retrieval of a submersible manikin from the deepest part of the pool and team lift out
  • Be able to perform suspected spinal cord injury rescues in deep and shallow water
  • Be able to respond to and manage an emergency situation
  • Understand the role of a pool lifeguard
  • Understand how to supervise the aquatic environment
  • Understand how to use equipment effectively.


Interested? Before You Get Started…

You’ll need to make sure you’ve met the following requirements before you attend your course:



Download the qualification specification by clicking the button below



STA Level 2 Pool Lifeguard

If you’re a swimming teacher, aqua aerobic instructor or school teacher and looking for a qualification that will allow you to provide safety cover for swimming sessions, this is the qualification for you!

On the course, you’ll learn basic rescue, first aid and resuscitation skills. Holding a rescue/safety award such as this is also recommended for our swimming teaching qualifications, so this may be included with your swimming teaching course (ask your course organiser for more details).



Interested? Before You Get Started…

You’ll need to make sure you’ve met the following requirements before you attend your course:


Download the qualification specification by clicking the button below

STA Level 2 Safety Award for Teachers

The Pool Emergency Responder qualification is designed to train staff working in and around hotels and leisure clubs which traditionally have smaller pools which are shallower than 1.5m. On the course you will learn how to respond to a swimming pool incident, perform CPR, first aid, and aquatic rescue skills including basic spinal injury management.

How Will the Qualification Benefit You?

  • Created by STA’s lifesaving experts, providing you with quality training
  • Training is in accordance with the National Occupational Standards and sections 140–185 of Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools and British Standard BS EN 15288 Part 2, Safety Requirements for Operations
  • Regulated by Ofqual and Qualifications Wales
  • Will give you the confidence and knowledge to deal with an emergency on the poolside.


Interested? Before You Get Started…

You’ll need to make sure you’ve met the following requirements before you attend your course:

  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Be able to swim 25 metres
  • Learners who cannot swim 25 metres must be capable of wading, and effecting a rescue, in a pool with a depth no greater than chest height
  • Be able to surface dive and recover an object from the deepest part of the pool


STA Level 2 Award For Pool Emergency Responder
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