Learning Life Support skills such as CPR comes hand in hand with the water-based rescue skills and the RLSS Life Support Award is a pre-requisite for most Lifesaving Awards.

The Life Support Award is valid for 24 months and to gain the award candidates must be able to perform effective CPR on a manikin, turn a live casualty, show the action for vomiting and the recovery position along with knowledge of the treatment for bleeding, chocking and shock.

For those progressing through the higher lifesaving and lifeguard awards programmes, the higher Life Support 3 award is available which includes CPR for children and babies.