Starting a Lifesaving Society Club at your high school
Stand Out at your High School: Start your own Lifesaving Society Club and raise funds for charity
If you hold Lifesaving Society qualifications, you can start such a club in your high school. The "initiator" is appointed as the first President of the Lifesaving Society Club, who must be certified as a Lifesaving Instructor, Swim Instructor, National Lifeguard Service, Standard First Aid with CPR-C, and Airway Management from the Lifesaving Society. All awards must be current.
Starting such a club can be a lot of fun and very rewarding! Here are the steps to follow when forming this club:
The Initiator
1. First contact Laurie Priestman at the Lifesaving Society (416-490-8844) to start the process as per the Lifesaving Society Club Constitution. (complete the Club proposal and return to the Lifesaving Society office)
2. Obtain written permission from your school, specifically from your Principal.
3. Seek out a School Advisor, a full-time staff member (a teacher) - it's a bonus if the School Advisor is also a member of the Lifesaving Society (and holds any of the Society's awards).
4. Once your request is approved by your Principal, it is important to present your club at the next Student Council meeting.
5. Form an Executive Team - each member must be a full-time or part-time student at your high school and must be certified as a Lifesaving Society Instructor, Swim Instructor, and in Standard First Aid with CPR-C by the Lifesaving Society. All awards must be current.
6. Upon ratification by the Student Council, announce your club over the PA system, create flyers, display the Lifesaving Society Club package (display booth), invite students, tell other teachers.
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The Advisor
- To ensure that the Executive Team is aware of all rules at the high school.
- To approve and be present at all CPR/First Aid training sessions.
- To approve a President's new appointment.
- To give direction and assistance with the club's planning & fundraising (time and place to meet).
Running the Club
- If you are the President, you must take part in all CPR-A training sessions.
- As the President you need to keep good records, complete test/examination sheets and collect all funds (fundraising and test sheets) and return to the fundraising staff at the Lifesaving Society office.
- The Executive Team will teach the CPR/First Aid program according to the Lifesaving Society Standards. The President will examine and sign-off test/exam sheets at the end of each training session.
- Be part of the Lifesaving Movement - remember you are passing on the "gift of life" by teaching resuscitation skills to your fellow students. You never know when one will need to put their lifesaving skills to use. Help us to ensure that there are volunteer "Lifesavers" in every community - it could be your family or friends who receive the benefits of this CPR lifesaving training.
For more information, please email
Fundraising
or call 416-490-8844 or fax 416-490-8766.
A lifesaving high school club
In September 2010, seventeen-year-old Ameya Pendse is a Grade 12 student at Milliken Mills High School in Unionville and president of the first high school Lifesaving Society Club. He is also a national lifeguard and instructor.
Ameya approached the Society about creating a high school club that teaches people about water safety. With the Society's support, Ameya enlisted his principal, Ms. Catherine McGinley, who supported the idea noting "the club would teach young people not only about personal safety, but also valuable life skills they could share with family and friends." Ms. McGinley also noted that the club promotes healthy living and lifestyles, which is a board initiative.
Ameya then recruited Mr. Joe Lofkowitz to act as teacher advisor. Mr. Lofkowitz is a Bronze Medallion holder and former instructor. With these key people in place, Ameya's club proposal was unanimously approved by the student council. The club executive consisted of: Jonathan Chu, Kimberley Cummings, Alana Fortella, Edwina Huang and Melissa Wong, all of whom are lifesaving instructors. "None of [the executive] are doing this for money or volunteer hours" Ameya says, "we are doing this because we strongly believe in this cause."
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"The club's main goal at Milliken Mills is to raise awareness of drowning prevention. We also want to teach CPR-A and eventually first aid. Everyone should have this education." The plan is to certify all 1,800 students with CPR-A in groups of 12 throughout the school year. There is a nominal registration fee for the training with funds directed to the Society's Water Smart campaign.
Ameya's advice to other high school students in Ontario who would like to start such a club is to "just do it; it may be challenging, but it is very rewarding."
In the 2010-2011 school year, Ameya and the executive team trained 106 students in CPR-A and raised over $400 for drowning prevention education.
For more information, please email
Fundraising
or call 416-490-8844 or fax 416-490-8766.