National Lifeguard Examination Policy

The Lifesaving Society Prince Edward Island's National Lifeguard Examination Policy defines the minimum conditions under which NLS examinations may occur:

  1. All National Lifeguard examinations must be submitted by an Affiliate Member of the Society.
  2. Pool facilities must meet the following minimum standards: 15 m long, 5 m wide and 1.5 m deep.
  3. All examinations must be conducted with the minimum equipment identified on the National Lifeguard exam equipment list (see below).
  4. The minimum number of candidates is one. However, additional and currently certified National Lifeguards must participate during situations - as the second lifeguard. The second lifeguard may not be the National Lifeguard Examiner conducting the exam.
  5. In lifeguard situations, scenarios may include any of the test items within the National Lifeguard options (e.g., public relations, drowning non-swimmer, submerged victim, spinal-injured victim, injured swimmer, facility emergency, enviromental emergency). Note that first aid conditions are limited to those outlined in Appendix A of the National Lifeguard Award Guide.
  6. The minimum number of potential victims may not be less than six. Victims' names and contact information must be recorded and submitted with the test sheets.

    On exams with 8 candidates or more, no additional "victims" are required (because this number provides for 2-lifeguard situations with 6 victims). However, on exams with fewer than 8 candidates, the number of candidates and the number of additional volunteers must add up to a minimum of 8, and the names and contact information for all volunteers must be submitted with the test sheets.

  7. :::

    Recertifications

  8. The updated 2022 National Lifeguard program defines the mandatory items which must be evaluated on National Lifeguard Recertifications. See National Lifeguard recertification Notes for Examiners or the items marked with the † symbol in the National Lifeguard Award Guide.

National Lifeguard exam equipment list

X = Mandatory   O = Optional

 

Equipment Pool Waterpark Waterfront Surf
Resuscitation manikin with lungs X X X X
AED trainer O O O O
Barrier devices (pocket mask with a one-way mechanical valve and hypoallergenic medical examination gloves) X X X X
Bag-Valve-Mask O O O O
First aid kit (practice); contents include band aids,
gauze, dressings and triangular bandages, blankets, towels, medication placebos, and auto-injector trainers for in-class use		 X X X X
Submersible manikin O O O O
Buoyant rescue aid (minimum 50 newtons of buoyancy) such as a rescue tube, rescue can, ring buoy, or an adult lifejacket or PFD X X X X
Non-buoyant rescue aids, such as a throw line, throw bag, and reaching pole X X X X
Spineboard or other appropriate device X X X X
9 kg (20 lb.) weight
 X X X X
Whistles X X X X
Timing Device X X X X
Distance-measuring device (100-200m) n/a n/a X X
Masks, fins, and snorkels n/a n/a X X
Paddleboard or rescue craft n/a n/a
 X X