The Surf Insight ISA/ILS Water Safety course in Sri Lanka

Currently due to Covid-19 we have no availablity for ISA courses until further notice.

In 2016 the ISA introduced the ISA / ILS Water Safety Course. The International Life Saving http://www.ilsf.org/ is the world authority for Life Saving and the new course is devised to perfectly fit the Surfing or SUP instructor’s needs. Surf Insight is proud to have been involved in the development of this course and the first training centre to run it worldwide.

In the Surf Insight ISA / ILS Water Safety Course we deal with the incidents, conditions, and techniques you will normally come across when teaching and coaching and again we run the course in an open discussion and dialog and practical on hands practise format.

There are course prerequisites that although quite easy for an SUP rider or Surfer they must be done:

Prior to attending a course, participants must have completed a timed swim of 200m completed in less than 5 minutes in a pool no shorter than 25m.

This must have been witnessed and completion certificate signed by a Swimming Pool Manager, Qualified Swim Coach or ISA Course Organiser or an ISA Course Presenter. This can be tested by us, prior to taking the course, but you are best to ensure you have this done before your arrival with us.

We believe at Surf Insight we offer the very best in safety training giving you the confidence to also be the very best of instructors caring not only for the progress of those you coach but firstly for their safety.

“The course with Tim taught me more than two years in the surf school business. I highly recommend anyone who takes their surf coaching seriously to go and see Tim!”

Emmer Larson Sweden ISA Level 1

Don’t forget an ILS Beach Life Guard Exam normally asks for 400 meters in less than 7 ½ minutes, which is a lot faster, so you should be fine. But do train to complete this time and it will give you far more confidence for the course.

So, as we did with the ISA Level 1and 2 Surf and the SUP Flat Water Course, let’s look at the main modules that are covered. The course is also a process of continual assessment and 100% attendance is required. The Modules are separated, of course in some sections, for those taking SUP Flat Water or Surf Instructor courses.

Module 1: Basic Surf Safety Awareness for Surf and Surf and Flat Water SUP Instructors

Here we cover the basic formation of waves, types of waves and weather and surf forecasting, currents and tidal movement. This section is to be taken by all Surf Instructors and by Surf SUP instructors. At Surf Insight we feel it vital for all water users to have a sound understanding of these subjects. Much of it will have been covered already in your ISA courses if for Surfing or SUP.

Module 2: Hazards for Surf Lessons

This section applies to the hazards encountered by those running any form of surf craft instruction. SUP or Surfboard. We set this section as an open workshop to share each other’s experiences of the dangers we have all encountered and are aware of.

Some but not all of the subjects covered are

Shallow sand banks and rocks
Rips and sweeps
Surfing equipment
Other surfers and their equipment (including those in the lesson and free surfers outside the lesson)
Types of waves you will encounter
Weather induced illnesses eg hypothermia or heat stroke

Module 3: Basic Ocean/River/Waterway Awareness for Flat Water SUP Instructors and the hazards you will encounter

Although it may seem that running Flat Water SUP sessions present far less dangers than those find in the surf we know that in reality they can in fact contain far more variables that affect the safety of the group and the instructor. In this section we high light those many and varied hazards and dangers you may well encounter.

Module 4: Instructor’s Duty of Care

Here we cover again your legal and moral obligations that you must take on board as an ISA Surf or SUP instructor. We link this again to the important documentation of a Risk Assessment, Normal Operating Procedures and an Emergency Action Plan that every instructor must use and have a full understanding of.

Module 5: Basic First Aid

Any Instructor must consider that they will no doubt come across incidents that require First Aid. The aims of good First Aid are what we see listed below.

Preserving Life
Preventing further harm, the condition worsening or reducing the danger of further injury
Promote recovery
A First Aid provider is also there to provide reassurance and comfort.

On our Surf Insight ISA Instructor courses we extensively cover the types of injuries and incidents that you may well encounter and the appropriate treatment. From soft tissues injuries, fractures, dislocations, wounds and bleeding and more to those conditions often simply caused by the environment we are in such as heat stroke and Hypothermia and the marine environment itself.

On the Surf Insight ISA / ILS Water Safety Course we focus too on spinal injury response and management which in our sports has to be considered as a real and possible eventuality.

We show you how these and other injuries and conditions can be managed and particularly what should be our priorities in patient care during and post the incident and the response in relation to the emergency services available and our legal obligations in these circumstances in regards to accident forms and post evaluation of the incident.

Module 6: Basic Immediate Emergency Care and CPR

On our Surf Insight ISA / ILS Water Safety course a lot of time, attention and practise are given over to the protocols and practice of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Drowning is a reality that of course we hope we don’t encounter but every instructor must be fully practised in their response to this possible eventuality. We ensure that you have a lot of practical practise time which is given over 1 and 2 person CPR resuscitation protocols.

Module 7: Board Rescue

One of the most exciting and rewarding parts of our Surf Insight ISA / ILS Water Safety course is the vital knowledge of how to ensure the rescue and safety of a casualty , no matter how the serious the incident , by using our own personal board or the boards available around us

You will learn the approach to the casualty, how to assess the situation and the “pick up” techniques used for the tired, injured and the unconscious casualty. We can have all the first aid skills in the world but if we cannot make an effective rescue then it’s all for nothing.

We find this part of the course very challenging at first and those on our courses tell us that finally they find it extremely rewarding. It gives them a positive understanding that they have the skills to make a real difference in an in water rescue in any Surf or SUP incident.

Module 8: Signals

Basic signals and the understanding of these signals by your class, fellow instructors or lifeguards around you are vital. If in a rescue situation no rescues should be made alone we hope and the signal system you will learn will ensure not only the safety of those who you are helping but also of course, your own safety.