What comes after Swim for Life?

The Lifesaving Society designed the Swim for Life modules to flow into the basic lifesaving awards: Rookie, Ranger and Star Patrol (Canadian Swim Patrol). These are often programmed as the top three levels of a learn-to-swim continuum and appear in the class-size chart as Swimmer 7, 8 and 9.

• Rookie Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, and basic first aid for conscious victims.
• Ranger Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 75 m swims of each stroke, a lifesaving medley, and first aid for unconscious victims and obstructed airways.
• Star Patrol (8 to 10 hours): 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims, and first aid for bone and joint injuries.

None of the three has a prerequisite or needs recertification. Beyond Swim Patrol, the Society's lifesaving awards continue with Bronze Star (10 hours, no prerequisite), then Bronze Medallion (minimum age 13, or Bronze Star), then Bronze Cross, which is a prerequisite for National Lifeguard.

Source: Lifesaving Society Ontario Program Guide, July 2026 edition (Sections 6 and 7).