Background

      Organized international lifesaving activities began in 1878 when the first World Congress was hosted in Marseille, France. In 1910 the Federation Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique became the first international lifesaving federation when it was formed in Paris. Many years later, in 1971, World Life Saving was created and composed of national surf lifesaving organizations, including the United States Lifesaving Association. After two decades of operating separately, on September 3, 1994, FIS and WLS merged to create a single international body of lifesaving to be known as the International Life Saving Federation.

      ILS is now composed of over 120 national lifesaving federations. ILS officials include an internationally elected President and Secretary General, four vice-presidents (each of whom is also president of one of the four geographic regions of the world that make up ILS), and directors from each of the regions. The four ILS regions are as follows:

      Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in every country of the world. A drowning occurs somewhere in the world every two minutes, with more than 250,000 every year.

International Lifesaving Objectives:

   Improve aquatic life saving and resuscitation techniques
   Develop life saving education
   Exchange practical, medical, technical, and scientific experiences
   Spread aquatic life saving skills to every corner of the world
   Help prevent pollution of our waters
   Encourage uniformity in life saving equipment, symbols, signs, and laws
   Promote and organize life saving sports and competitions

   The World Health Organization of the United Nations (WHO)
   The International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IRC)
   The International Olympic Committee (IOC)
   The International Military Sports Council (CISM)