Lifeguard Zone

LFGZ: Hello KATE

Kate: Hi Gwenn hows it going?

LFGZ: You will organise a NARS course  in France. Could you tell me why?

Kate: Well,  for the last couple of years I have been lucky enough to turn my passion of the ocean and lifesaving into a year round career, moving from the UK to Australia having the “endless summer” and getting paid good money to do the best job in the world!
Now I am living in france and I have been involved with lifeguards in France, I can see so many lifeguards here with that same passion, and with a NARS qualification they could also turn that passion into a full time job, or just get a qualification to lifeguard abroad somewhere and gain more experience, while having a great time.
In the UK a full length season can be up to 6 months and even all year round on some beaches now, and in Australia it is the same, therefore it is possible to lifeguard on beaches all year round, and in some of the most amazing places and countries in the world.
So while I am living here I thought I would set up a course and try to give some lifeguards here the opportunity to get the NARS without having to travel to England, and help to open a door into a new world of lifeguarding.

LFGZ: Are French diplomas (BEESAN, BNSSA) available in England? To lifeguard a swimming pool, or a beach?

Kate: NO, the French qualifications are not available in the UK, and they are also not recognised in the UK. In England there are 2 different diplomas, one to work on the beach and a different one to work in the swimming pool. They are not done together like in France. This means if you want to work on the beach you must do a “beach lifeguard” course and to work at a pool you must do the “pool lifeguard” course. They are kept totally separate, I think the main reson for this is as any lifeguard will know they are a completely different job, requiring a completely different set of skills and training. It means the training is more specific the different environments.

LFGZ: Do people to get the NARS need to have a BNSSA or a BEESAN?

Kate: No they don’t. they don’t need any experience at all. Everything they will need to learn for the NARS will be taught on the course. However if they have any experience or training and qualifications it will be an advantage for them off course.

LFGZ: How many people will can participate?

Kate: There will be a maximum of 8 people on the course. Not many spaces so people who are interested to should jump on it quick!!
I have another trainer coming over for a few days from the UK, who has been a lifeguard for 3 years in Cornwall with me, and is now a paramedic in London. 8 candidates to 2 trainers is better than normal for the NARS course. So it will be a small group to make sure everyone gets good quality training. If a lot of people are interested, I will probably run an another course before the summer.
LFGZ: Do I need to be strong to do that?

Kate: You don’t need to be strong, but you do need to be able to do the fitness tests. 400m swim in 7’30 mins, and a 200m beach run in under 40 seconds. It’s not hard at all, and with a bit of training most people can make it. If your unsure just get in the pool a bit and go for a few runs!! The strongest lifeguards aren’t always the best!! Plus muscle sinks!!

LFGZ: Do you know Sebastien CHABAL? Do you you know that sentence: We are in France in France we speak french? Why not doing the NARS Course en français?

Kate: Yeah I know chabal….the long haired rugby player who looks like Chewbaca???!!
Je peux parler un petit peu français, mais….the course will be in english because this qualification will let you work in english speaking countries, so it is a lifeguard and a language course all in one!! If you work in Australia it will be good to know that a pensement is called a band aid,and RCP is actually CPR so this is a good place to start!!
Im doing my BNSSA training at the moment, so I understand how hard it can be to learn new names for everything, but it’s also possible, I have recently passed my PSE1 and 2 and am currently studying for my BNSSA 40 question paper, so hopefully people can see that just because a course is in a foreign language it is still possible and I will be sympathetic and understanding towards the candidates.

LFGZ: Please could you make LifeguardZoners dream… and tell me where I can work with the NARS?

Kate: Lots of places…..England, Ireland, Jersey, Australia, Tasmania, South Africa, New Zealand…..we have a saying in English….”the world is your oyster” ( it kind of means, the world is yours go and do what you want and have a lot of fun!)

LFGZ: Dis moi as tu prévu du beau temps pour la semaine du NARS? et aussi des vagues? »

Kate: OUI !!!! Un bon 27 degrès et 1m50 glassy ! Ca ira ???