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More Bahraini lifeguards will be trained ahead of next year’s swimming season, according to the kingdom’s pioneering water safety body.
From around 160 lifeguards in the country, less than 10 per cent are Bahraini, said Royal Life Saving Bahrain (RSLB) general manager Sam Rahman.
The Future Lifeguard Training Programme and the Lifeguard Development Programme are being organised by the RLSB in co-operation with the Tamkeen (Labour Fund).
These are part of an initiative to encourage more nationals to become lifeguards, or use the experience to branch out into related fields such as health and education, added Mr Rahman.
“We would like to encourage more to take up the profession. After they graduate, they can take up lifeguard jobs in hotels, beaches or they can just use the training they receive to secure jobs in other sectors.”
The Future Lifeguard Training Programme will feature a number of training workshops including first aid, swimming, leadership and more.
It will be held five times a week for three months. Fifteen people are expected to be part of the first batch, and will graduate around April next year, just in time for the start of the swimming season.
Those interested in signing up must be job-seekers aged between 18 and 25, and must be capable of swimming at least 50 metres.
Meanwhile, the Lifeguard Development Programme is geared towards existing lifeguards, and aims to not only enhance their swimming abilities, but also develop leadership and team-building skills.
“The programmes will take place across swimming pools across the country. By the end of these courses, participants will be fully qualified lifeguards and will be able to work anywhere, including beaches and swimming pools,” said Mr Rahman.
“The course will be challenging, as it needs to be, since people’s lives are in your hands.
“Despite that, it is a rewarding career, and the hard work and dedication put in will be worth it.” The training programme will be completely free for participants, who will also receive a monthly BD200 stipend from Tamkeen for the entire three months.
Those interested in registering can do so by visiting the RLSB’s Instagram page @rlsbahrain, and click on the link in the bio, follow the instructions and provide all the relevant information.
According to reports, since November 2021, almost 500,000 people have visited the beaches in the kingdom with almost 30,000 preventative actions have been performed by lifeguards.
The GDN reported last year that plans were in place to train more lifeguards to increase the safety of beaches and prevent drownings.
The RLSB stated then that it hoped to extend its lifeguard services to beaches across Bahrain, while recruiting more trained volunteers to work alongside them, to boost the safety of the facilities.
According to Mr Rahman, stronger community partnership, educational programmes and increased water-safety courses have contributed to a drop in drownings in Bahrain in the last few years. However, he asserted that more efforts were needed to encourage informed decision-making and promote safe recreation in water.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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