With the arrival of summer the swimming pool season begins and in all of them there must be a lifeguard figure, except the pools for collective use of Neighborhood Communities of up to a maximum of 30 homes.

The   minimum number of lifeguards will be:

A lifeguard up to 500 square meters of water sheet.

Two lifeguards between 500 and 1,000 square meters of surface area of ​​water for each glass, and from each 1,000 square meters of excess, one more.

On October 18, 2021,  ORDER 1239/21, of September 30, of the Ministry of Health , was published in the BOCM, regulating the  minimum training  necessary to provide services as a lifeguard requirements in swimming pools, aquatic facilities and natural environments. of the Community of Madrid.

Thus, people who want to practice as lifeguards must be in possession of a minimum training, which is included in article 2, and which includes both a series of official qualifications and the acquired knowledge and skills for the exercise of aquatic lifesaving. by passing a training course

In addition, a review and update of the requirements is carried out, adapting them to the current situation. On the other hand, it is not necessary for them to also be registered in a registry, a requirement that currently makes it unnecessarily difficult to exercise said profession, therefore proceeding to  suppress both said requirement and the registry itself.



Training requirements

The profession of aquatic lifeguard may be exercised, both in swimming pools and in aquatic facilities and in the natural environment, by persons who prove that they have the legally required minimum academic training, as well as being in possession of any of the following official qualifications:

a) For the exercise of lifesaving activity in aquatic facilities:

  • Certificate of professional lifesaving in aquatic facilities, established in Royal Decree 711/2011, of May 20, which establishes three certificates of professionalism of the professional family Physical and Sports Activities.
  • Title of sports technician in rescue and first aid established in Royal Decree 878/2011, of June 24, which establishes the title of Sports Technician in Rescue and Lifeguard and establishes its minimum teachings and access requirements.
  • Title of superior sports technician in rescue and lifesaving established in Royal Decree 879/2011, of June 24, which establishes the title of Superior Sports Technician in Rescue and Lifesaving and establishes its minimum teachings and the requirements of access.
  • Title of Higher Technician in Teaching and Socio-sports Animation, established in Royal Decree 653/2017, of June 23, which establishes the title of Higher Technician in Teaching and Socio-sports Animation and establishes the basic aspects of the curriculum. Likewise, the title of Higher Technician in Animation of Physical and Sports Activities, established by Royal Decree 2048/1995, of December 22, which was repealed by Royal Decree 653/2017, of June 23, cited, will also be considered valid.
  • Title of Higher Technician in Physical Conditioning, established in Royal Decree 651/2017, of June 23, which establishes the title of Higher Technician in Physical Conditioning and establishes the basic aspects of the curriculum.
  • Any other official degree that qualifies for the exercise of the profession of lifeguard in aquatic facilities.

b) For the exercise of lifesaving activity in natural aquatic spaces:

  • Certificate of professional lifeguarding in natural aquatic spaces established in Royal Decree 711/2011, of May 20, and in Royal Decree 611/2013, of August 2, which updates it.
  • Title of sports technician in rescue and first aid established in Royal Decree 878/2011, of June 24.
  • Title of superior sports technician in rescue and first aid established in Royal Decree 879/2011, of June 24.
  • Any other official qualification that qualifies for the exercise of the lifeguard requirements  profession in natural aquatic spaces.
  • Likewise, in the absence of the previous degree, persons who prove they have the legally required minimum academic training and prove be in possession of a minimum training, both theoretical and practical, for having passed a specific training course included in a training project approved by the General Directorate responsible for training of the Department of Health of the Community of Madrid, in accordance with the procedure established in the order.