Courses available in FR · EN · DE
Course overview
- Alert
- Protect
- Resuscitate
- Collaborate
- Assess
- Coordinate
Training locations
Sessions are offered around Lake Geneva and in several cantons of French-speaking Switzerland:
Vaud (Lausanne, Nyon, Morges, Montreux), Geneva, Fribourg and Valais.
Training takes place in an indoor pool or in open water, depending on the season and weather conditions.
Practical information
- Duration: 4 to 6 hours
- Participants: up to 10 people per session
- No prerequisites required
- Equipment provided: floating manikins, rescue equipment, training AED
- Recommended clothing: swimsuit or wetsuit, towel, dry change of clothes
- Language: French (English instruction available on request)
Aquatic first aid and resuscitation
Learn how to respond to a drowning or boating accident
The SafetyFirst aquatic first aid training is intended for anyone who spends time in an aquatic environment: swimming instructors, boaters, anglers and water sports enthusiasts. Delivered by certified first-aid instructors, this short course (4 to 6 hours) enables participants to learn the essential first-aid techniques to use in the event of an accident, drowning or medical emergency on or around Lake Geneva.
It combines theory, demonstrations and realistic practical scenarios in the water, teaching you how to respond effectively and safely.
Target audience
This course is ideal for:
- Swimming instructors, lifeguards and staff supervising aquatic centres
- Boating professionals (sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, fishing)
- Anglers, boating clubs, sailing schools and aquatic activity organisers
- Individuals wishing to improve their first-aid skills in an aquatic environment
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Identify risks associated with aquatic activities and anticipate dangerous situations
- Apply first-aid techniques appropriate for drowning
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a wet environment
- Keep an unconscious casualty afloat and ensure their safe removal from the water
- Prevent specific emergencies: hypothermia, cold-water shock, trauma, medical emergencies and heatstroke
- Use rescue equipment effectively (lifebuoy, pole, rope, AED, etc.)
Course content
- Responding to an emergency: assessing the scene, alerting the emergency services and protecting those involved
- Aquatic resuscitation (CPR): techniques adapted to wet environments
- Removing and transporting a casualty: safe manoeuvres in calm or rough water
- First-aid techniques specific to water sports (sailing, diving, paddleboarding, etc.)
- Managing common emergencies: hypothermia, cold-water shock, cramps and injuries
- Practical application: exercises in a pool or on open water, realistic scenarios and learning-focused debriefs
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Certified trainers, ready to deliver training courses.
Success rate of training participants.
Average rating given by participants.
Companies trained in health and safety at work.
Certified trainers, ready to deliver training courses.
Success rate of training participants.
Average rating given by participants.
Companies trained in health and safety at work.
Your advantages with SafetyFirst
Interactive training
Our training courses combine interactivity and practice for a dynamic and engaging safety learning experience.
Customised training
We value your time: courses are scheduled around your availability to minimise operational disruption.
Certified Training
We incorporate international safety standards, finely tuned to your company’s local specifics.
Aquatic first aid training methodology
An adult-learning approach focused on practical skills
SafetyFirst uses an active learning methodology based on the principles of adult learning — an approach specifically designed for adult education.
Each session combines clear theoretical explanations, guided demonstrations and practical exercises in an aquatic environment to promote understanding and retention of essential techniques.
Participants learn by doing through realistic scenarios inspired by accidents that occur in aquatic environments: drowning, cold-water shock, hypothermia, falling from a boat and more.
Complete immersion in real-life conditions
Training takes place in a pool or on open water, depending on the season, to provide an immersive experience as close as possible to real-life conditions.
Trainees handle first-aid equipment (lifebuoy, rope, training AED) and practise aquatic resuscitation (CPR) in a wet environment.
Each scenario is followed by a group debrief, a key stage during which the instructor helps participants analyse their actions, understand the appropriate responses and correct their mistakes in a supportive environment.
Personalised support
Sessions are deliberately limited to a maximum of 10 participants to ensure individual support and immediate feedback on practical work.
This small-group format promotes confidence, active participation and the sharing of experiences among learners.
The aim is for everyone to leave with a practical command of aquatic first-aid techniques that can be applied in their professional or personal environment.
Why choose SafetyFirst for your aquatic first-aid training?
Certified and experienced instructors
All SafetyFirst instructors are trained and certified in aquatic first aid (BLS-AED SRC, IAS, eduQua).
Their hands-on experience enables them to bring a realistic and pragmatic perspective to every session.
A practical and immersive method
Each course is based on action-oriented teaching, alternating theory, practical exercises and water-based simulations.
This approach ensures lasting retention of first-aid techniques and greater responsiveness in an emergency.
Sessions available throughout the Lake Geneva region
SafetyFirst offers aquatic training in French-speaking Switzerland, particularly around Lake Geneva: Geneva, Lausanne, Nyon, Montreux, Morges and the surrounding area.
Practice locations are carefully selected to provide a safe setting that meets educational requirements.
Training adapted to your needs
Modules can be tailored to the specific context: company, school, boating club or sports centre.
Each session is adapted to the aquatic activities practised and the participants’ level, ensuring useful and targeted training.
An organisation recognised for the quality of its training
Recognised for its professionalism and rigour, SafetyFirst holds the eduQua quality label and complies with BLS-AED SRC standards.
These certifications demonstrate a high level of educational rigour and training quality recognised by the Swiss authorities.
Complementary training:
Preparing today, protecting tomorrow.
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