The Royal Life Saving Society UK was founded in 1891 by William HENRY. Its aim is to prevent loss of life through drowning and asphyxiation. From the outset, the Society employed a strategy mix of education, training and campaigning to achieve this aim. Full co-operation is maintained with allied recreational and safety organisations and emergency services to promote water safety with advice also given through consultations.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK is the charity dedicated to the prevention of loss of life and injury in water related incidents. It is the authority provider of lifeguard training and assessment in the United Kingdom with over 25.000 Pool and Beach Lifeguards each year.
The Society has developed programmes and initiatives to support all age groups within clubs and the leisure industry. It is a major publisher of Lifesaving/Lifeguarding, Water Safety and Life Support books and materials.
Development in the community is also a prime objective and support is given to many organisations and sporting groups. The Society has 51 Branches in Great Britain and Ireland, 150 lifeguard clubs and 2.000 lifesaving clubs. As a result of their work, up to 250.000 people receive training in lifesaving each year.
A range of training and assessing programmes are produced which include Water Safety, Life Support, Lifesaving and Lifeguard operations. The Society has direct links with the Sport and Recreation Industry and manages the National Lifeguard Training Programme.
The Society also teaches basic life support to specific sections of the community such as anglers. This programme aims to turn anglers into an army of lifesavers. The Society is also working on the youth and has launched a very successful ‘rookie’ programme where kids are turned into lifesavers.
During 1997 a major new programme, Save a Baby’s Life, was launched. Save a Baby’s Life is designed to give basic life support skills to cavers of babies, whether they are parents, grandparents, friends of teenage babysitters.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK is the founding member of The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), which is active in over 40 countries world wide. RLSS UK was a founding member of the Federation Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) and seeks to develop all aspects of Water Safety through the International Life Saving Federation.