MEMBERS of the Okehampton Otters Swimming and Lifesaving Club celebrated the award of the Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion and Rookie awards which marked the successful completion of demanding training courses. Club chairman Bob Collett, who presented the awards at Okehampton Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre on Friday May 6, congratulated the members on their success. He emphasised how the skills they had learned would help to turn them from bystanders into competent rescuers in an emergency situation. The Bronze Medallion course taught life support methods including the diagnosis and management of choking, bleeding and shock, and both land and water based rescues. For some this is a useful contribution to their GCSEs and a module of their Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Rookies develop their rescue skills through four levels, each marked by the award of a Star badge, during which they learn how to stay safe around water, what to do if someone is drowning, how to perform resuscitation to try to save someone and how to provide aftercare to shocked and injured persons. They also improve their swimming ability amongst friends in a fun atmosphere, developing into strong swimmers capable of looking after themselves and helping others. Okehampton Otters Lifesavers meet at the Swimming Pool every Friday at 6pm.