Singapore Life Saving Society Certifications: A Simple Guide
Thinking about lifeguarding, teaching swimming or simply being able to help in an emergency? Here is how lifesaving certifications in Singapore generally fit together.
Please check the details: award names, entry requirements, ages and fees change. Confirm the current requirements with the Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) before enrolling.
What is the Singapore Life Saving Society?
The Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) runs lifesaving education and certification in Singapore, from basic rescue skills for the public to awards for people who want to work as lifeguards. Its courses are usually held at public swimming pools.
Why get a lifesaving qualification?
- To help in an emergency around water, safely.
- To work as a lifeguard at public pools, hotels, clubs or condominiums. Employers generally expect lifesaving and first aid and CPR qualifications.
- To teach swimming. Swimming instructors benefit from lifesaving and CPR training.
- For personal confidence in the water.
A typical progression
1. Lifesaving 1, 2 and 3
Foundation awards that build water safety and basic rescue skills step by step, such as recognising someone in difficulty, reaching and throwing rescues, and swimming and towing skills. Each level builds on the previous one.
2. CPR
Current CPR certification is usually needed before the higher lifesaving awards. In Singapore, CPR and AED courses are widely available, for example through the Singapore Heart Foundation.
3. Bronze Medallion
A core lifesaving award covering more advanced rescues, emergency response and fitness standards. SLSS describes it as a course of training sessions followed by a CPR examination and a Bronze Medallion examination. It is commonly the base qualification for lifeguarding and further awards.
4. Pool Lifeguard Award
For people who want to work as pool lifeguards, building on the Bronze Medallion with pool supervision, scanning, emergency procedures and advanced rescue skills.
Further awards
There are further awards for experienced lifesavers and for people who want to teach or examine lifesaving. Check SLSS for the current list.
How fit do you need to be?
Higher awards include timed swims and demanding rescue tasks, so you need to be a strong, confident swimmer in several strokes and in deep water. If you are not there yet, start by improving your swimming; our adult swimming course and private swimming course can help you build stroke technique and endurance. Read how to swim faster and our endurance workouts.
Lifesaving and SwimSafer
SwimSafer, Singapore's national water safety programme for learning to swim, teaches swimming and water survival skills. Lifesaving awards go further, teaching how to help others. Some swimmers go on from SwimSafer to lifesaving awards. See our SwimSafer course page.
Becoming a swimming instructor
If you are interested in teaching swimming, see our swimming instructor course page and read how to teach swimming.
More in water safety
- Do you need to swim to snorkel?Skills to learn and safety tips
- 20 water activities in SingaporePaddling, sailing, team sports and more, and the swim skills they need
- Water safety tips for familiesSupervision, condo and public pools, the beach, lightning and emergencies
- 10 ocean swimming tipsSwimming safely in the sea in Singapore: water quality, weather, sighting and jellyfish
Sources
- Singapore Life Saving Society, Lifesaving courses. SLSS lifesaving courses, including the Bronze Medallion (training sessions plus CPR and Bronze Medallion examinations).
- Singapore Aquatics, Lifesaving and lifeguard courses in Singapore. Overview of lifesaving and lifeguard courses in Singapore.
- Singapore Heart Foundation, Take a course. CPR and AED certification courses for the public.
Build the swimming skills lifesaving needs
Tell us how you swim now and your goals, such as preparing for lifesaving awards. We will suggest a suitable course, format and pool. Lessons run at public swimming complexes, private venues and condominium pools across Singapore.