Technical Skills

The following topics are covered throughout our program. Technical skills taught through exercises/activities and didactic lessons. 

1. Introduction to Surf Lifesaving

   1. Lesson: Understanding the importance of surf lifesaving.

2. Personal Safety

   1. Lesson: Understanding the beach environment, and identifying a lifeguard.

3. Sun Safety/Block The Blaze

   1. Lesson: Identify and demonstrate smart sun protection guidelines. Understand the consequences of skin damage caused by sunburn.

4. Surf Conditions, Hazards, Drowning Prevention 

   1. Lesson: Identify how a rip current forms and what they look like. Understand how to escape a rip current, and what to do if you see someone caught in a rip current.

5. First Aid

   1. Lesson: Understanding the basic principles of first aid.

6. Beach Safety Flags and Signs and Signals

   1. Lesson: What the beach flags and signs in your local area mean.

7. Beach Safety Education and Prevention

   1. Lesson: Recognize unsafe behaviors at the beach and in the water.

8. Surf Swimming, Entering, Negotiating and Exiting the Surf

   1. Lesson: High knees, porpoising, diving under a wave, donning fins, knowing your bearings, and swim stroke technique improvement.   

9. Board Paddling

   1. Lesson: Correct paddling technique and positioning on the board. Board maintenance and care. Recognize how a board can be used to secure and support a conscious patient.

10. Ocean Kayaking 

    1. Lesson: Correct position, paddle technique, holding oar, navigating waves and surf. 

11. Swim: Rescue Tube Rescue

    1. Lesson: Understanding the difference between a rescue tube and a rescue hard can, including the origin and alternative names for both. Maintenance and skill development for rescue tube rescue techniques.

12. Beach Activity Skills

    1. Lesson: Sand running, beach flags, Australian Beach Flags, water beach flags, 4x100, run swim run, and physical agility drills.

Adapted from Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards.