The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The National Lifeguard Course teaches the basic principles of lifeguarding in any aquatic situation. Heather Todoschuk, supervisor for the Flin Flon Aqua Center, said the course is designed for team work and teaches it among lifeguards. Come 2008, it will be the main criteria to have. "Bronze cross won't be recognized and the NLS will be required," Todoschuk said. "I really like the course," Todoschuk said. "Teaches candidates importance of safety supervision, patron education, and prevention." The Aqua Center's supervisor said that NLS, which is a 50 hour course open to the public, is a step up and is the highest award for life saving. "It's a course that instills skills," she said. Alison Hall is one of the staffers who has taken it. "I thought it was a lot of hard work," Hall said. "It was worth it. I knew what I was doing and it made me a lot more confident." The one area where Hall said the course helped was the physical side that involves making rescues. "I had to pick up bricks from under water and bring them up," explained Hall, who has worked at the Aqua Center for two years. "The instruction was very good." Amanda Link is another lifeguard at the Aqua Center who has taken the course. She will take a recertification class on Aug. 29. "It was my favourite out of all," Link said. "They put you in situations you wouldn't imagine." Once completing the initial course, Link shared Hall's view in that she felt she could do her job better. The course will be offered in Flin Flon from Aug. 25-27 and 29-31 in The Pas. For more information, contact the Aqua Center at 681-7540.
