FAQs

Of course. Our only prerequisite is that you can swim!

Our training sessions are listed on our website. These may change at short notice so it is best to subscribe to our mailing list to keep up-to-date. Email lifesaving-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk to subscribe.

Lifeguards are the professionals who look after you when you are at the swimming pool or by the beach. As lifesavers, we practise some of the skills lifeguards use, including survival and rescue techniques, swimming, first aid and teamwork, and apply these in lifesaving competitions.

Lifesaving competitions are super fun, and involve a mixture of SERCs and speed events. In SERCs (or simulated emergency response competitions) we are presented with a whole bunch of people pretending to have various maladies, and we are judged on how we work as a team to look after them. Speed events are our chance to compete in a series of races specifically designed to show off our lifesaving skills. These include a rope throw relay and a swim and tow relay.

No. Whether you compete or not is completely up to you. By joining our training sessions you will stay fit, make friends and learn skills which could potentially save a life.

Yes! In Weeks 1 and 2 of Michaelmas term our sessions are free and open to anyone who wants to give lifesaving a go. If you want to try lifesaving at any other point in the academic year, drop us an email and we’ll arrange a couple of taster sessions for you.

Wear clothes you feel comfortable in for the first aid sessions, and bring your swimming costume, goggles and towel for swimming sessions. 

We’ll give you a hat when you become a member, and you can order club stash from https://www.kitlocker.com/oxford/sports-clubs/lifesaving

It costs £30 to become a member of the lifesaving club for the academic year 2024-25. This includes access to all training sessions and a free swim hat. 

Some colleges have grants for those taking part in university sport, so it is worth checking with your common room sports rep.

If you want to attend lifesaving competitions, we will ask for a contribution towards the entry fees and transport costs.

We provide all the equipment you’ll need for training (apart from your swimming costume and goggles, obviously). Some members like to buy their own fins, and we encourage members to buy club stash so we look super sharp as a team.

Yes, but there’s a caveat. The University has a weird rule where no more than a fifth of our members can be Brookes students, and no more than a fifth of our membership can be from outside the pool of Oxford University and Oxford Brookes students. If we have sufficient Oxford University members when you join then you are very welcome to become a member. Drop us an email to arrange a taster session.

No. However, if you want to become a lifeguard we can help point you in the right direction. If this is something you want to do, read the next FAQ.

Last year, we attempted to set up regular NPLQ sessions ran by Iffley Sports Centre, but there was not enough interest for the sessions to go ahead. We have set up a mailing list which we will send all lifeguarding opportunities. Send an email to lifeguards-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk to sign up.

No, but there are adult swimming lessons at the university sports centre. For more information, see https://www.swimschoolofoxfordshire.co.uk/home.

Yes! The Oxford First Aid Society runs informal first aid training sessions. Their facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064168144858. There are also opportunities to volunteer with St John Ambulance, and a number of our members do so. To start volunteering with them, visit https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-roles/

If you're still looking for the answer to your question, please get in touch with us and we would love to help you. You can drop us a message on Facebook, Instagram or send an email to oulscsecretary@gmail.com