New lifeguard certification course to launch in Erbil after Eid holiday

ERBIL — The Erbil branch of the Aquatics Union will launch its third round of lifeguard certification courses after the Eid al-Adha holiday, aiming to ensure all pool lifeguards across the governorate meet safety standards.

“We are offering theoretical and practical training for all lifeguards working in pools for both women and men. Participants must be at least 18 years old,” Khales Anwar, head of the union in Erbil, told 964media.

The training includes instruction in basic lifeguarding knowledge, swimming techniques, and water rescue procedures. Trainees must pass a final exam to receive their certification.

Anwar emphasized the importance of certified staffing. “We want every pool lifeguard to hold a certificate before working,” he said, adding that individuals with existing certifications are required to renew them annually.

To ensure compliance, Anwar called on local authorities to establish a formal committee to verify the credentials of current lifeguards. “I can say that 90 percent of those working as instructors or lifeguards already have certification. It’s essential to prevent anyone from working without it,” he said.

He also offered a basic safety tip to the public: “Avoid panicking when you fall into water.”

The announcement comes amid concerns over rising drowning incidents across the Kurdistan Region. On April 20, a 23-year-old tourist drowned in the Khazir River near the Mendan Bridge in Duhok’s Bardarash district. Earlier that month, another tourist was presumed to have drowned in the Tenkator River in Mergasor district, part of the Soran Administration.

As of August 2024, civil defense authorities reported nearly 60 drowning deaths across the region, most involving children. In 2023, more than 100 people drowned, prompting intensified rescue efforts that resulted in the successful recovery of nearly 70 individuals.