The Royal Life Saving Society – Jamaica is over 50 years old. It has focused on the training and certification of lifeguards employed at the hotels, tourist and public beaches in Jamaica.

The society was revived in 1996 and since then, over 3.000 lifeguards have been trained and certified. The main locations where the lifeguards are operating are: Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, Port Antonio (river rafting), Negril, Inland hotels May Pen, and others.

The Society has trained 21 instructors, with 10 trained to NLS standard. There are currently 8 active instructors, 7 of whom are at the NLS standard. Standards are maintained through the use of a National Lifeguard Manual developed by the RLSS-J, and through regular review with all instructors.

There is a National Coordinator, Chief Examiner and Chief Instructor, who oversee each function. The Society has 17 originally certified and 8 currently active trainers & instructors.

Besides the water rescue and lifeguard courses, the Society is also organising resuscitation courses for hotel housekeepers, pool bar managers, non-watersport staff, etc…

The main rescues in Jamaica are many formally unreported incidents of injuries requiring life saving intervention at hotels. Unfortunately, some lifeguards have left Jamaica now working on cruise ships all over the World.

The Royal Life Saving Society of Jamaica is the sole body in Jamaica responsible for training and certification of lifeguards in the Ministry of Health’s – Pool Safety Regulations under the Public Health Act and are the sole examiners under Beach Control Act for marine/beach environment.

The Society became full member of ILS in May 2003.