safely Training For Lifeguards At Aqua Parks

The RLSS UK has joined forces with several of the UK’s most popular outdoor water park providers to create specialised training for lifeguards who work at outdoor aqua parks.

In 2021, 341 people lost their lives in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds and canals in the UK; the partnership between the charity and Aqua Park Association UK and Ireland is aiming to reduce that number.

The partnership has created a new training module that can be completed by individuals that hold the RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification. The training is for individuals working at aqua parks and includes additional skills and knowledge to help users enjoy the aqua park safely.

The RLSS UK has already trained a number of aqua park managers around the country to deliver the new Aqua Park Module and will be assisting the industry in upskilling more RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessors to deliver the new module.

Jo Talbot, from the RLSS UK, said: “This is another great step forward to enhancing the skills of RLSS UK lifeguards to work in new and developing water industries. We must ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy the water safely.

Aqua parks are great fun and attract a huge number of people across the UK and Ireland every year. This new module will enhance safety and provide the aqua park industry with the training needed.

The module includes an investment of six hours of additional training per lifeguard. Key elements of this training are safety, first aid, and using rescue boards, increasing the skills of all the water safety teams working with us.

A spokesman for the Aqua Park Association UK and Ireland added: “The Aqua Park Association was created by a group of park operators with the same passion - giving people safe access to fun organised water sports activities. We now have over 40 accredited water parks in the UK and Ireland, all welcoming tens of thousands of thrill-seekers in the spring and summer, we’ve worked with the RLSS UK to put in extra training for lifeguards to help keep everyone as safe as possible and we really hope that more aqua parks in the UK and Ireland will join the association to keep safety standards high in our industry.

“The new training module we’ve developed with the RLSS UK means that we will have highly qualified lifeguards in the UK and Ireland looking after people at our parks.

“The RLSS UK and Aqua Park Association of UK and Ireland both have the same goals and passion regarding keeping people safe in water and water safety. We hope to continue the partnership for many more years.”