SLSGB Beach Lifeguard Training Course in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Five days, usually from about 9am, mixing classroom time at Gupton Farm with pool work and open-water rescue on a Pembrokeshire beach. Assessments run through the week rather than all landing on the last afternoon.

Day one starts 15 minutes before the first classroom block. The beach is confirmed the evening before if that day starts on the sand rather than at the farm.

Sixteen. You should already be a confident swimmer and medically fit for a physical week. There is no need to have worked as a lifeguard before.

You will swim, run, lift and carry through the week. If a medical note affects that, say so before you arrive so trainers can plan around it where the award still allows.

The farm building at Gupton Farm, Castlemartin, SA71 5HW is the usual day-one pin. Turn right off the main road, follow the drive, then park by the wood-clad containers and the farmhouse-style building on the left. Toilets are in the building.

Pool and beach days use venues chosen around the day's swell, wind and tide. The pin comes the evening before if you are not starting at the farm.

The five-day SLSGB Beach Lifeguard training, SLSGB membership, qualified trainers, CPR and first aid, pool and open-water sessions, a wetsuit if you need one, and the rescue kit used on the course.

Accommodation, meals and travel to Pembrokeshire sit outside the package. Bring swimwear, a towel and a packed lunch each day. Tea, coffee and a kettle are at the farm.

Timed swims, running, lifting, tube and board rescues, and casualty handling. You also pass first aid, CPR and the theory papers that sit with the award.

Trainers run these through the week so you are not meeting every standard for the first time on Friday. Say if you want a clear list of the timed pieces before you arrive.

Beach patrol, communications, emergency planning, casualty care, CPR, first aid, tube rescues, ocean board rescues and surf rescues. Classroom blocks sit next to pool and open-water practice.

You work in small groups, so trainers can watch each rescue and give a cue between attempts rather than leaving you to copy from the back.

Ordinary rain does not cancel the week. The beach moves, or a pool or classroom block swaps in, when swell or wind makes the planned water session unsafe.

Messages each evening carry the next day's pin. The five days stay on this coast, just not always on the same stretch if a beach is closed or flat.

Swimwear, a towel, a warm dry layer, sunscreen, a packed lunch, a refillable bottle and a pen. A towel robe helps because most beaches have no changing rooms. Your own wetsuit is fine.

Send your size before you arrive so a suit is ready. Leave valuables at the farm or in the car rather than on the sand.

Twenty-four months from the assessment date. After that you complete the renewal the award asks for if you want to stay current.

Keep your membership details and the certificate somewhere you can find them. Trainers can outline the renewal at the end of the week.

The week starts with the core theory and pool work, then builds into more open-water rescues. You should already be a confident swimmer and ready for the fitness pieces.

If you have not swum a timed 400 metres recently, practise before you arrive. The week is long, and the water work does not wait for a first confident length.