Renewal candidates may renew their qualification only within the period of validity of their existing qualification as stated on their certificate. Candidates may only renew the qualification when they hold the full National Pool Lifeguard Qualification i.e. both Units 1 and 2 (7th Edition first revision) or a current 8th Edition National Pool Lifeguard Qualification.

Candidates must meet the following on-going training criteria before being submitted for a renewal assessment:

• Provide written or electronic evidence of having completed a minimum 20 hours lifesaving, CPR, first aid training and competency assessment in conjunction with the undertaking of lifeguard duties within the period of validity of the qualification
• Hold a current, full National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
• Have access to the most up to date copy of 'The Lifeguard'

Where a candidate holds a 7th Edition qualification additional training will be required to ensure the candidate is ready for the 8th Edition Assessment. The trainer will need to review the candidates training record against the 8th Edition Syllabus to ensure the candidate has covered all additional content to ensure they are ready for assessment.

We are in the process of completing the 8th Edition ongoing training and competency assessment plan which will cover the core syllabus of the NPLQ 8th Edition. This training programme can be used to enable the transition from 7th to 8th Edition of the NPLQ for existing lifeguards.

You should renew to the 8th Edition if you have sufficient 8th Edition training hours.

For consistency in the delivery of the qualification throughout the country all Trainer Assessors must use the PowerPoint presentations, lifeguard manual and master programme when delivering the 8^th Edition of the NPLQ. The programme is broken up into group work, practical work and pool based work to provide a variation in delivery methods.

No, you cannot exchange 7^th Edition. You can continue to deliver 7^th Edition of the NPLQ until the end of 2012.

We are currently updating the IQL Ongoing Training and Competency and assessment plan for staff training. It will be web-based and the content of the programme will cover the core syllabus of the 8^th Edition. The web-based Ongoing Training and Competency Assessment package will have additional functionality such as:

• Access for Training Managers to view multiple swimming pools

• Email reminders for the General Manager

Our aim is to have this package ready in May 2012 and it will be free of charge for Approved Training Centres.

You don’t have to wait. You can start training straight away. Have a look at the syllabus and work out what you need to do to bring your candidates up to the 8^th Edition requirements.

No, you must change Assessors after three consecutive assessments. We want Approved Training Centres to use a spread of Assessors to ensure that the assessment of the qualification remains as independent as possible. Only assessors who have attended an 8^th Edition update can assess the 8^th Edition.

Trainer Assessors will get a new 8^th Edition card of authority. It is important that you check the assessor is 8^th Edition qualified prior to booking them in for an assessment. IQL staff will be able to check Trainer Assessor status on our database and you are able to check with us which Trainer Assessors have attended an update. Over 3,000 Trainer Assessors have already booked on to the updates so far.

If Trainer Assessors have identified that any candidates are encountering difficulties then you should sit with the candidate and talk them through the sections of the manual. We are happy for the Trainer , or another candidate in the group, to read the questions and write the answers down for any individual who requires additional support. The trainer would need to ensure appropriate support is given throughout.

Renewal candidates must have “access” to a copy of the 8^th Edition Lifeguard manual but they do not need to have an individual copy issued to them.

The minimum guided learning hours can be extended if a candidate needs additional support before they are ready for the assessment. We would always recommend that candidates read their manuals during the course to supplement the training given to them by the course trainer. Candidates must also complete the revision questions at the end of each element.

To deliver AED as part of the 8^th Edition of the NPLQ Trainer Assessors must attend the AED update.

If you have not yet completed the AED update but have another Trainer Assessor who has completed the AED update they can deliver the AED element of the NPLQ to the candidates.

Probationary Trainer Assessors must complete their probation period prior to attending the AED update.

If you are already an existing RLSS UK AED trainer you will need to attend the AED update to be able to deliver the AED as part of the 8^th Edition of the NPLQ and to continue to deliver the RLSS UK stand alone AED course from January 2013.

All AED Trainer Assessors will need to attend the one day RLSS AED Trainer Assessor course to be able to deliver the AED course (either the stand alone course or to incorporate this in an NPLQ course).

An NPLQ Trainer Assessor who has attended an 8^th Edition update or has completed the new 8^th Edition NPLQ Trainer Assessor course.

We are investigating the use of a new type of board but this will take at least a year. We are looking to develop a two-person rescue board for deck level pools. With other pools we are investigating how this can be achieved safely with less than four lifeguards because of manual handling issues with higher freeboards.

We have made new training competency and assessment records and we will make these free and downloadable to print for Approved Training Centres.

If you are running an 8^th Edition NPLQ course then 12 candidates can complete the AED section at a ratio of 1 trainer to 12 candidates. See Red Stripe for equipment guidelines.

If you are delivering a standalone AED course the ratio is one trainer to six candidates in line with ERC guidelines.

Due to the practical elements of the AED course it would not be possible to cover this with such a large number of trainers. The AED updates is delivered to a ratio of 1 NTA to 8 Trainer Assessors. We have trained 30 NTAs to deliver the AED updates and details of the courses are on the courses page of our website. We anticipate running a minimum of 150 AED courses throughout the UK and Ireland throughout 2012.

You will need to attend a new AED course because it involves new slides and is integrated into the 8^th Edition. We have a responsibility to maintain standards so we have included skills checks at this update. We have not had a face to face skills check for many years and this is something Trainer Assessors have been asking for. Existing AED Trainer Assessor qualifications will finish at the end of this year but are not sufficient for use with the 8^th Edition of the NPLQ.

Yes. The qualification is valid for 24 months in line with the NPLQ.

Yes, you will need to be a qualified TA before you attend the AED TA course.

For a Trainer Assessor to remain current they will need to hold a NPLQ, NBLQ or Life Support 3.

The Mentor programme is on hold at the moment. We are pointing people in the direction of the National Trainer Assessor qualification which is more robust and easier for us to manage for quality and consistency.

We are investigating the HSE standards for delivery of the First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work. It is our intention to include these qualifications and once we are in a position to begin to offer this service we will let you know.

As with all emergencies and rescue techniques use the recognised techniques and utilise the lifeguard team to keep movement of the casualty to a minimum as far as reasonably practicable.

Please see the video 01 Head Splint SCIM All (SlowMotion) within the DVD you will have from the 8^th Edition Update. This will answer your question.

No.

The Bronze Medallion assessment has changed in the last year. This has included assessment by the course trainer, so we have not included this within the NPLQ 8^th Edition APL. The Bronze Medallion is also only available until the end of 2012.

We are currently advising trainers of any news or information on our web site, through our magazine or our e-zines.

We will be reviewing the Approved Training Centre manual in the near future. As soon as we have the revised manual we will send it out to all Approved Training Centres and Providers.

The current Trainer Assessor course will have additional guidance notes with updated presentations slides to ensure that it will guide the NTA / TA through the course to ensure all 8^th Edition elements are covered.

Yes. We have recommended that candidates do not use their mobile phone or anything to distract them from their poolside duties within the new manual.

The NPLQ (7^th or 8^th Edition) both meet the specification within the Health and Safety Executative ‘s publication “Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (2003).

We have delivered a couple of pilot courses to the public and we found that the new course not only improved the candidates understanding of the NPLQ but improved the candidate’s ability to be a better lifeguard.

Yes see page 115. If the lift is difficult, you should stop, reassess and get more lifeguards to assist.

You can also see the lifeguard in the water providing additional lift on page 114 (second picture down on the left).

This is to stay in line with the Voluntary Aid Society first aid manual (Red Cross, St Johns and St Andrews).

This is primarily a beach technique for rescuing a casualty over distance in open water. In a swimming pool environment there is no need for this technique.

No.

The casualty should be in deep water at the 20m mark.

A firm surface can include the forearm when treating a choking infant.

We are not looking to update the NRASTC award at the present time.