Bronze Medallion

Bronze Medallion (18-20 hr.): teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the 4 components of water-rescue education - judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, and defence methods and releases in preparation for challenging rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 500 m timed swim.

Bronze Medallion is recognized as the waterfront supervisory certification for Ontario's Recreational Camp Regulation 568.

Prerequisite: Minimum 13 years of age or Bronze Star certification (need not be current).

Evaluation & certification: Current Lifesaving Instructors evaluate most items, but only Bronze Cross Examiners may certify candidates. The Lifesaving Society deems its certifications to be "current" for 24 months from the certification date.

Candidate recognition: Bronze Medallion medal, Bronze Medallion Award crest, certification card.

Required reference material: Canadian Lifesaving Manual

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Serious Hardware poster

At-A-glance

  1. *Demonstrate accuracy in throwing buoyant aids. Throw a distance of 8 m placing the aid within 1 m of the centre of a target 3 times out of 4.
  2. *Simulate self-rescue techniques for the following circumstances:
    • Ice
    • Moving water
    • Swamped or capsized boat
  3. *Starting in the water, demonstrate 20 m or yd. head-up approach, surface dive to recover a submerged victim or manikin, and return to the starting point using a control carry to support and carry the victim.
  4. *Demonstrate 3 defences from the front, side, and rear and 3 releases from the front, side, and rear. Assume a ready position and communicate verbally after each defence or release.
  5. *Swim head-up 6 x 25 m or yd. maintaining a consistent pace and work-to-rest ratio. Check your pulse after the last repeat.
  6. *Swim 500 m or 550 yd. in 15 minutes or better using any combination of strokes of the candidate's choice.
  7. *Demonstrate rescue breathing and one-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a manikin, including:
    • Adult and child victims
    • Complications in resuscitation (e.g. vomiting)
    • Adaptations (e.g. mouth-to-nose, stoma)
  8. *Simulate the treatment of:
    • A conscious adult or child with an obstructed airway
    • Complications involving a pregnant woman and a person who is obese
    • Simulate the treatment of an unconscious adult or child with an obstructed airway.
  9. Demonstrate the appropriate recognition and care of a victim suffering from the following circulatory emergencies:
    1. Shock
    2. Heart attack or angina
    3. External bleeding
    4. Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
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  11. *Walk around an aquatic environment scene, evaluate the ongoing activities, and where appropriate, model safe aquatic leisure choices.
  12. Recover and immobilize a conscious breathing victim with a suspected cervical spinal injury in shallow water. Demonstrate recovery and immobilization with both a face-up and a face-down victim. Recruit and direct bystanders to assist.
  13. *Perform a logical underwater search of a specified area to maximum depth of 3 m.
  14. Perform a non-contact rescue in an aquatic situation designed to emphasize a low-risk rescue, victim care, removals with bystander assistance, and follow-up including contact with EMS.
  15. Perform a rescue of a non-breathing victim located in deep water, 5 m from a point of safety. The situation involves an unsupervised environment and is designed to emphasize victim care, removals with bystander assistance, and follow-up including contact with EMS.
  16. Perform a rescue of a distressed or drowning victim in open water, requiring a 20 m or yd. approach and 20 m or yd. return. The situation is designed to require either a contact or non-contact rescue with emphasis on victim recognition and appropriate care.

* Asterisk indicates instructor-evaluated item.