Bronze Medallion


 * For the New York civilian award, see Bronze Medallion (New York City award)

New Zealand and Australia
In New Zealand and Australia one must gain a Bronze Medallion in order to become a qualified Surf Lifesaver.

Testing & Exams
The qualifying test to become a Surf Lifesaver includes both theoretical and practical components.

Theoretical
This includes
 * Resuscitation (CPR, EAR is no longer because of changes last year)
 * First Aid
 * Signals
 * Communication/radios
 * workbook
 * Exam

(MOST OF THIS IS WRONG USE A DIFFERENT WEBSITE. however the 400m swim of sidestroke, breaststroke,survival backstroke and freestyle is correct)

Practical

 * Timed 40om swim
 * 4 rescue techniques (tube, board, spinal board and spinal carry)
 * Scenarios

Requirements

 * Must be within one calendar year of turning 14
 * You must swim 400 m in under 13 minutes : 100m freestyle, 100m survival backstroke, 100m sidestroke, 100m breaststroke
 * You must perform a tube and a board rescue
 * You must demonstrate putting a patient in the recovery position
 * You must demonstrate CPR
 * You must demonstrate radio communication & first aid
 * You must pass a written test on First Aid as well as all Surf Lifesaving practices.

Canada
In Canada, Bronze Medallion is the first step towards the lifeguarding certification, NLS. The award is part of the Lifesaving Society's Bronze series of awards. Bronze Medallion includes water safety, rescues, resuscitation, and an introduction to spinal injury management. It is the prerequisite for Bronze Cross; Standard First Aid with CPR-C and 16 years of age are the prerequisites for NLS. NLS is the only valid lifeguarding certification in Canada.

Prerequisites

 * 13 years of age, OR
 * Bronze Star

United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the Bronze Medallion is the flagship award of the Royal Life Saving Society UK. It is open to those age 14 years of age and over, and consists of resuscitation, theory questions on water safety, self rescue, and rescue principles, and a practical, swimming pool based assessment.

A summary of the current nine tests (Dec 2006) is as follows:

1. Suspected Drowning; includes mouth-to-mouth/nose resuscitation and the recovery position.

2. Suspected Heart Attack; includes mouth-to-mouth/nose resuscitation, CPR and the recovery position.

3. Land-Based Rescue; includes use of various rescue methods in which the rescuer remains on the shore. Non-Contact.

4. Wade/Swim Rescue; includes use of various recue methods in which the rescuer has to enter the water. Non-Contact.

5. Timed Swim/Tow; 50m swim, 50m tow using item of clothing. Must be completed within 3min15secs from arriving at pool edge to casualty touching land. Non-Contact.

6. Contact Tow with Self-Defense; 20m swim, 20m tow during which the casualty will try to attack the rescuer at random. Close-Contact.

7. Unconscious Casualty; 20m swim, 20m tow with an unconscious casualty. Includes surface dive, water-based mouth-to-mouth/nose resuscitation, use of bystander for help to get casualty onto dry land and the recovery position.

8. Unknown Scenario; students face an unknown scenario in whih they will have to successfully rescue at least two casualties from the water. Casualties may be in any condition and safety resources are varied.

9. Oral Examination; testing knowledge of basic first-aid, diagnosis, water safety etc.