If you are young and fit enough to attempt a Beach Lifeguard Qualification course I suggest that you have a go. The training is challenging but you will be training with other young and fit candidates performing all the body contact rescue techniques in the water. You will divide your time between playing rescuer and casualty and get the chance to ride on the board and on the casualty.
As a "casualty" you will be taken out to deep water by rescue power craft and drop in off the sides, to quote Clint Eastwood in Hamburger Hill "I could never understand the need for jumping out of a perfectly functioning (air) craft." You then float on the surface, play dead and wait to be rescued.
The physically most demanding part of the exam is the 400m run followed by 200m sea swim and and return tow, commencing resuscitation on the beach.
This is followed by the section with the surf ski or board.
I've saved 3 lives since then (one actually in the water) so perhaps it was worth it.
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04-24-2012, 01:30 PM
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