Research plays a critical role in the development and continued evolution of RLSS UK qualifications. We work with research agencies and universities to evaluate training methods, complete research studies and gather insights from real-life rescues and aquatic environments to test theories rigorously. If it is established that better practices are identified, they will be adopted into the training within our suite of qualifications to ensure they constantly evolve and meet the changing needs of the industry. Our research has resulted in changes to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance and has been published in numerous publications. 

Below are some examples of the research that RLSS UK has contributed to: 

Research article title:	Details:	Link to article:
The physiology of survival: Breath-hold shallow-water diving	Experimental Physiology Published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of The Physiological Society December 2025	View the research article
Beyond certification: Improving lifeguard drowning detection through validated tools and specialised training	International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics  Volume 107 May 2025 103741	View the research article
Influence of Vigilance Performance on Lifeguard Gaze Behaviour	Europe's Journal of Psychology August 2024 220 - 233	View the research article
An expert-novice comparison of lifeguard-specific vigilance performance	Journal of Safety Research Volume 87 December 2023 Pages 416-430	View the research article