Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service
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The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, commonly abbreviated NSLS, is a lifeguarding service operating in Nova Scotia. The NSLS has been guarding Nova Scotia's beaches since 1973. The NSLS is a joint project between the Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion, and the Nova Scotia Branch of the Lifesaving Society.
The NSLS presently employs 54 lifeguarding staff for the 2006 season, as well as several other part time staff. The season runs from late July 1 through to August 27, with a few beaches continuing weekend supervision into September. The NSLS developed the Nova Scotia surf league, Canada's first surf lifesaving competition series, and has seen several Nova Scotian's selected to the Core Team of the Canadian National Lifesaving Team since its inception.
The service was born out of a 1972 study into a high number of drownings in the waters off of Nova Scotia. Originally called the Nova Scotia Beach Supervision Project, the beaches were organized by region, so that each region is required to recruit and hire lifeguards for the beaches that would offer lifeguard supervision. The program was centrallized and began employing a full time director in 1975, when it also changed its name to the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service.
There are a large number of supervised beaches in Nova Scotia. In 2006, the NSLS supervised 17 beaches around the province, and was responsible for training and administrating the lifeguards for several others. A complete list of supervised beaches can be found on the NSLS Supervised Beaches page. In the area surrounding Halifax, there are five supervised beaches. Usually supervised beaches are chosen based on how busy the beach is, but the severity of the waves and currents can also be factors. The five supervised beaches around Halifax include Queensland,Rainbow Haven, Lawrencetown, Dollar Lake, and Clam Harbour.
Lifeguards chosen in Nova Scotia must complete a rigorous interview process. All lifeguards must be certified through the National Lifeguard Service Award, and also be certified in a Standard First Aid course. Also, they must be trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) level C. Applicants must then complete a timed 500-meter swim, a timed 3.2 km run, and a timed 50-meter carry with a manikin. There has also been a written test taken by applicants. Once a lifeguard is hired he/she must complete a four day training camp. This rigorous program has proven successful with no one drowning within the supervised area of any NSLS beach during hours of supervision since the program's inception in 1973.
