Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service
Encyclopedia
The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service (also NSLS) is a Canadian
lifeguard
service operating in Nova Scotia
.
NSLS has been supervising many Nova Scotian beaches since 1973 and is a joint project between the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, and the Nova Scotia Branch of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
(RLSSC) http://www.lifesavingsociety.ns.ca.
The NSLS employed 54 full time lifeguards for the 2006 season, as well as several other part time staff. Supervision seasons typically run from July 1 through to the last weekend in August, with a few beaches continuing weekend supervision into September. The NSLS developed the Nova Scotia Surf League, Canada's first surf lifesaving competition series, and has seen several Nova Scotians selected to the Core Team of the Canadian National Lifesaving Team since its inception.
The service was born out of a 1972 study into a high number of drownings at public beaches in Nova Scotia
. Originally called the Nova Scotia Beach Supervision Project, the beaches were organized by region, so that each region is required to recruit and hire lifeguards for the beaches, thereby supplying lifeguard supervision. The program was centrallized and began employing a full time director in 1975, when it also changed its name to the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service.
In 2006, the NSLS supervised 17 beaches around the province and was responsible for training and administration services for several others.
All lifeguard applicants to NSLS must be certified with the RLSSC's National Lifeguard Service Award and also maintain certification in Standard First Aid
as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) level C.
Applicants are then tested with a timed 500-meter swim in surf conditions, followed by a timed 3.2 km run, and a timed 50-meter carry with a suitably weighted mannequin
.
The physical test is followed by a written test. Should an applicant be hired, s/he must successfully complete a four day NSLS training camp with all new and returning lifeguards immediately prior to the start of the supervision season, during which there are further evaluations of skills based on performance during mock emergency scenarios. Should an applicant not meet the standard during the training camp, alternates who are successful will be selected in their place.
This rigorous selection program to ensure the highest level of skill and competency has proven to be a successful formula. No person has drowned within the supervised area of any NSLS beach during hours of supervision since the program's inception in 1973.
competition operated by NSLS. Started in 2000, it is Canada's first lifesaving
competition series. The format of the series was modeled after an Australian professional lifesaving circuit called the Nutri-Grain Surf League. It has aimed to focus on increasing the level of participation among in the sport of lifesaving among Nova Scotia
lifeguards, mainly through providing regular access to competition. The league founder, Craig Durling, remains active today as the league's Commissioner.
Prior to the existence of Surf League, Nova Scotians would often travel to competitions in Ontario, Quebec and the United States.
At the conclusion of each summer, league awards are presented to the top teams and individuals who competed on the series. Career statistics are also maintained by the league for wins for men and women.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
service operating in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
NSLS has been supervising many Nova Scotian beaches since 1973 and is a joint project between the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection, and the Nova Scotia Branch of the Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
Royal Life Saving Society of Canada
The Royal Life Saving Society Canada operates throughout Canada as the Lifesaving Society. The Society works to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart public education, water-incident research, safety management and lifesaving sport...
(RLSSC) http://www.lifesavingsociety.ns.ca.
The NSLS employed 54 full time lifeguards for the 2006 season, as well as several other part time staff. Supervision seasons typically run from July 1 through to the last weekend in August, with a few beaches continuing weekend supervision into September. The NSLS developed the Nova Scotia Surf League, Canada's first surf lifesaving competition series, and has seen several Nova Scotians selected to the Core Team of the Canadian National Lifesaving Team since its inception.
The service was born out of a 1972 study into a high number of drownings at public beaches in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Originally called the Nova Scotia Beach Supervision Project, the beaches were organized by region, so that each region is required to recruit and hire lifeguards for the beaches, thereby supplying lifeguard supervision. The program was centrallized and began employing a full time director in 1975, when it also changed its name to the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service.
In 2006, the NSLS supervised 17 beaches around the province and was responsible for training and administration services for several others.
Supervised beaches
- Aylesford Lake Beach (Municipality of Kings CountyKings County, Nova ScotiaKings County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.Kings County is located in central Nova Scotia on the shore of the Bay of Fundy with its northeastern part also forming the western shore of the Minas Basin....
) - Lake Ellenwood Beach (Lake Ellenwood Provincial Park)
- Lake Milo Beach (Municipality of the District of YarmouthYarmouth, Nova Scotia (municipal district)Yarmouth is a municipal district in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.The district forms the western part of Yarmouth County and uses the legal name The Municipality of the District of Yarmouth...
) - Mavilette Beach (Municipality of the District of ClareClare, Nova ScotiaClare is a municipal district in western Nova Scotia, Canada.Primarily an Acadian region, Clare occupies the western half of Digby County. Most of the municipality's settled areas are located along St. Marys Bay, a sub-basin of the Gulf of Maine...
) - Port Maitland Beach (Port Maitland Provincial Park)
- Rissers Beach (Rissers Beach Provincial Park)
- Clam Harbour Beach (Clam Harbour Provincial Park)
- Dollar Lake Beach (Dollar Lake Provincial ParkDollar Lake Provincial ParkDollar Lake Provincial Park is a seasonal Provincial Park located in the Musquodoboit Valley area of the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada in the community of Wyses Corner, Nova Scotia , 22 kilometres from the Halifax International Airport, on the Old Guysborough Road .The park...
) - Heather Beach (Heather Beach Provincial Park)
- Lawrencetown Beach (Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park)
- Melmerby Beach (Melmerby Beach Provincial ParkMelmerby Beach Provincial ParkMelmerby Beach Provincial Park is a provincial park in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located on the province's North Shore fronting the Northumberland Strait approximately northeast of New Glasgow...
) - Queensland Beach (Queensland Beach Provincial Park)
- Rainbow Haven Beach (Rainbow Haven Provincial Park)
- Bayfield Beach (Municipality of the County of AntigonishAntigonish County, Nova ScotiaAntigonish County, Nova Scotia is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in northern Nova Scotia on the Northumberland Strait and its county seat is the town of Antigonish.-History:...
) - Indian Beach (Cape Breton Regional MunicipalityCape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova ScotiaCape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
) - Inverness Beach (Municipality of the County of InvernessInverness County, Nova ScotiaInverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
) - Mira Gut Beach (Cape Breton Regional MunicipalityCape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova ScotiaCape Breton Regional Municipality often shortened to simply CBRM, is a regional municipality in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton County.According to the 2006 Census of Canada, the population within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is 102,250...
) - Pomquet Beach (Pomquet Beach Provincial Park)
- Port Hood Beach (Municipality of the County of InvernessInverness County, Nova ScotiaInverness County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its territory is almost contiguous with the Municipality of Inverness County, which only excludes the town of Port Hawkesbury and First Nation reserves.-History:...
) - Martinique Beach
- Point Michaud Beach
- Ingonish Beach
Training
Lifeguards employed with the NSLS must complete a physically rigorous selection process.All lifeguard applicants to NSLS must be certified with the RLSSC's National Lifeguard Service Award and also maintain certification in Standard First Aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
(CPR) level C.
Applicants are then tested with a timed 500-meter swim in surf conditions, followed by a timed 3.2 km run, and a timed 50-meter carry with a suitably weighted mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
.
The physical test is followed by a written test. Should an applicant be hired, s/he must successfully complete a four day NSLS training camp with all new and returning lifeguards immediately prior to the start of the supervision season, during which there are further evaluations of skills based on performance during mock emergency scenarios. Should an applicant not meet the standard during the training camp, alternates who are successful will be selected in their place.
This rigorous selection program to ensure the highest level of skill and competency has proven to be a successful formula. No person has drowned within the supervised area of any NSLS beach during hours of supervision since the program's inception in 1973.
Nova Scotia Surf League
Nova Scotia Surf League is a lifeguardLifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
competition operated by NSLS. Started in 2000, it is Canada's first lifesaving
Lifesaving
Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue however it could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services. Lifesaving also refers to sport where lifesavers compete...
competition series. The format of the series was modeled after an Australian professional lifesaving circuit called the Nutri-Grain Surf League. It has aimed to focus on increasing the level of participation among in the sport of lifesaving among Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
lifeguards, mainly through providing regular access to competition. The league founder, Craig Durling, remains active today as the league's Commissioner.
Prior to the existence of Surf League, Nova Scotians would often travel to competitions in Ontario, Quebec and the United States.
At the conclusion of each summer, league awards are presented to the top teams and individuals who competed on the series. Career statistics are also maintained by the league for wins for men and women.