Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-gesellschaft Slrg

What Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-gesellschaft Slrg does

Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft SLRG (also Società Svizzera di Salvataggio SSS / Société Suisse de Sauvetage SSS) is Switzerland's largest water safety organization, operating as a private non-profit association (Verein) headquartered in Sursee. Its mission is to prevent drowning — which averages approximately 50 fatalities per year in Switzerland, with a 2023-2024 trend of 10-12 deaths concentrated in 17-32 year-old males — through standardized education, training, prevention, and rescue services. Core offerings consist of a progressive certification ladder (Jugendbrevet, Brevet Basis Pool, Brevet Plus Pool, Brevet Pro Pool) with add-on modules for lake, river, hypothermia, and BLS-AED skills; a school-based curriculum called "Wassersicherheit macht Schule" with a standardized Wasser-Sicherheits-Check (WSC) assessment; multilingual prevention materials; and three professional rescue lines — Badwache (lifeguard watch), Sicherungsdienst (security service), and Wasserrettung (water rescue).

SLRG distributes its services through 124 local Sections organized into six regions (North-West, East, Romande, South, Central, Zurich), enabling national coverage with hyper-local execution. A central administrative headquarters of roughly 20 named staff provides strategic management, certification governance, scientific groundwork, digitization, and account management; the wider workforce is volunteer-driven. Technology is conventional SaaS: an intranet ("SLRG Network"), an online course calendar at ausbildung.slrg.ch, a first-aid app co-developed with the Swiss Red Cross, Mailchimp newsletters, a Microsoft Teams–based water accident notification workflow, and a Landbot.io chatbot for website conversations.

Revenue is a diversified mix typical of Swiss charities: course and training fees, 23,000 members' annual fees, donations and legacies (including Twint, SMS via FairGive, PostFinance, SIX, and bank transfer with disclosed transaction fees), Sicherungsdienst and Badwache services to event organizers and pool operators, and public-sector contributions from J+S federal sports subsidies and statutory mission funding. Key institutional anchors include membership in the Swiss Red Cross since 1982, Swiss Olympic, the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), ZEWO charity certification, and a new partnership with health insurer Helsana commencing 2026.

Name

Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-gesellschaft Slrg

Legal name

Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft SLRG

Website

https://slrg.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft SLRG is Switzerland's largest non-profit water safety organization, delivering progressive lifeguard certifications, school-based prevention curricula, and professional rescue services (Badwache, Sicherungsdienst, Wasserrettung) through 124 local Sections and 23,000 members nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Safety & Lifesaving Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training (EDAOAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Safety, Lifeguarding & Training Services (Staffing, Certification) (THAAABAL), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPADADAD)

Keywords

• Water safety education
• Lifeguard certification
• Drowning prevention
• Aquatic rescue services
• Swimming training

Headquarters

HQ city

Sursee

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Training Fees: Revenue from water safety courses, lifeguard training, and continuing education programs for various target groups.
2. Donations and Legacies: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Tax-deductible donations with annual donation receipts issued in January.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from 23,000 members across 124 Sections.
4. Security and Surveillance Services: Lifeguard services provided at events and bathing facilities through security services (Sicherungsdienst) and bathing surveillance (Badwache).
5. Public Funding and Subsidies: Contributions from public sector for fulfilling statutory missions and youth+Sport (J+S) programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SLRG provides water safety education, progressive lifeguard certification programs (Brevet Basis/Plus/Pro Pool plus Lake, River, Hypothermia, and BLS-AED modules), drowning prevention campaigns, and professional aquatic rescue services (Badwache, Sicherungsdienst, Wasserrettung) for swimming pools, events, and the Swiss general public. The organization also delivers school-based water safety curricula, ongoing training for certified lifeguards, and runs the national lifesaving sport competition framework.

Product overview

SLRG (Swiss Life Saving Society) operates as a unified platform-plus-modules organization combining water safety training certifications, rescue services, prevention programs, and competitive lifesaving sport. The core offering consists of progressive lifeguard certifications (Brevet Basis Pool, Brevet Plus Pool, Brevet Pro Pool) and specialized add-on modules (See/Lake, Fluss/River, Hypothermia, BLS-AED) for open water environments. The SLRG Network provides an intranet platform for members and sections. Prevention is delivered through Wassersicherheit macht Schule educational programs and publications including the quarterly Magazine pur, annual Wasser-Sicherheits-Report, drowning statistics, and Leistungsbericht. Rescue services encompass Badwache (lifeguard watch), Sicherungsdienst (security service), and Wasserrettung (water rescue). The sports division organizes the Swiss Lifesaving Trophy competition series and relay championships, with athletes competing in pool and ocean lifesaving disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SLRG Network Intranet platform for SLRG members and 124 Sections to access resources, manage club operations, and collaborate across the organization.
• Jugendbrevet (Youth Brevet) Basic water safety certification for youth introducing young people to safe swimming and basic rescue techniques.
• Brevet Basis Pool Entry-level pool lifeguard certification covering fundamental water rescue skills, first aid basics, and pool safety protocols.
• Brevet Plus Pool Advanced pool lifeguard certification building on Brevet Basis Pool with deeper knowledge of rescue techniques and emergency response.
• Brevet Pro Pool Professional-level pool lifeguard certification for individuals seeking advanced rescue and leadership roles in aquatic facilities.
• Modul See (Lake Module) Specialized training module on open water rescue techniques specific to lakes, including conditions, hazards, and rescue protocols.
• Modul Fluss (River Module) Specialized training module for river rescue addressing strong currents, water hazards, and navigation in flowing water environments.
• Modul Hypothermie (Hypothermia Module) Specialized training module covering recognition and treatment of hypothermia and cold-water immersion emergencies.
• Modul BLS-AED Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillator training module, teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED operation.
• Badwache (Lifeguard Watch) Professional lifeguard supervision service at swimming areas providing water safety monitoring and emergency response capability for pools and bathing facilities.
• Sicherungsdienst (Security Service) Water safety security service for events providing trained personnel and rescue equipment for water-based activities.
• Wasserrettung (Water Rescue) Professional water rescue services for emergency situations featuring trained rescuers and specialized equipment.
• Wassersicherheit macht Schule School-based water safety education program providing teaching materials, Wasser-Sicherheits-Check (WSC) assessments, and open water swimming instruction for schoolchildren.
• Magazine pur Official quarterly magazine of SLRG featuring lifeguard sport stories, prevention work updates, and section experiences, available as PDF downloads.
• Wasser-Sicherheits-Report (Water Safety Report) Annual report providing key statistics and facts on drowning incidents in Switzerland, prevention models, and partner engagement.
• Ertrinkungsstatistik (Drowning Statistics) Annual drowning accident statistics showing the scale, locations, and demographics of water-related fatalities in Switzerland.
• Leistungsbericht (Annual Report) Annual activity report providing an overview of SLRG's achievements, activities, and financial statements.
• Swiss Lifesaving Trophy Competition series comprising three pool and three lake competitions with overall rankings in youth, open, and masters divisions.
• Staffel-Schweizermeisterschaften (Relay Swiss Championships) National relay championships in lifesaving sport hosted annually by different SLRG sections.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 drowning deaths per year (10-year average) - SLRG works to reduce this through prevention programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HelsanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarting 2026, Helsana (Swiss health insurance market leader with CHF 7.8 billion in premiums and 2+ million insured persons) partners with SLRG for drowning prevention. Helsana supports campaigns for safe behavior at, in, and on water. Members and benefactors receive benefits including discounts on supplementary insurance, family rebates, and coverage for Brevet Base Pool with COMPLETA supplementary insurance.
• Swiss Red Cross (Croix-Rouge Suisse CRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLRG has been a member of the Swiss Red Cross since 1982. CRS rescue organizations include Swiss Samaritan Association, Swiss Society for Rescue Dogs (REDOG), and Swiss Medical Rescue Service (SSTS). CRS actions are guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, and universality.
• International Lifesaving Federation (ILS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILS is the international association for water rescue organizations. SLRG is a member. ILS aims to prevent accidents at, in, and on water through information exchange with national and international organizations. ILS also promotes lifesaving sport through international competitions.
• Swiss OlympiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Olympic is Switzerland's National Olympic Committee and umbrella organization for Swiss sports federations. SLRG is a member through lifesaving sport and recognized as a professional association.
• Jeunesse+Sport (J+S)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal sports promotion program for children and youth in approximately 70 sports. SLRG serves as the J+S competence center for water safety. Provides training and continuing education for lifesaving instructors leading to J+S instructor and expert certifications.
• Swiss Adult Sport (Sport des adultes suisse esa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal sports promotion program focusing on popular and recreational sports. Collaborates with partner organizations like SLRG to achieve uniform quality standards in training and continuing education for instructors.
• Bureau for Accident Prevention (BPA/Bundesamt für Prävention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent foundation with legal mandate for accident prevention. BPA and SLRG collaborate on water accident prevention. Joint result includes the Water Safety Forum (Forum de sécurité aquatique FSA/Wasser-Sicherheits-Forum WSF).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG): DLRG is Germany's national water safety and lifesaving organization with over 1.5 million members and 60,000+ active rescuers. It is directly comparable as a national non-profit delivering lifeguard certifications, water rescue services, prevention education, and youth water safety programs.
• Lifesaving Society Canada: The Lifesaving Society Canada is a national charity dedicated to drowning prevention, offering the Canadian Lifesaving Program certification stream and water safety education. Directly comparable in mission, certification architecture, and ILS affiliation.
• Swim England: Swim England is the English national governing body for swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming, operating Learn to Swim and aquatic safety programs. Comparable as a national body delivering tiered swim certifications and water safety education.
• Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM): SNSM is France's volunteer-based sea rescue organization with ~9,000 volunteer rescuers. Comparable as a national non-profit delivering water rescue services, lifeguard training, and drowning prevention in a French-speaking European context.
• Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK): RLSS UK is the UK's drowning prevention charity, providing lifeguard training, IQL UK qualifications, and water safety education. Directly comparable as a national ILS-affiliated non-profit with parallel certification and prevention programs.

Broad incumbents

• International Life Saving Federation (ILS): ILS is the global umbrella body for water rescue organizations of which SLRG is a member. Comparable as the coordinating federation for drowning prevention, lifesaving sport, and certification harmonization worldwide.
• American Red Cross - Lifeguarding Program: The American Red Cross operates one of the largest lifeguard certification programs in the United States as part of its broader humanitarian mandate. Comparable as a major institutional provider of lifeguard training and water safety education, though much larger in scale and broader in mission.
• Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz (Swiss Red Cross): Swiss Red Cross is SLRG's parent federation since 1982 and a strategic partner for the first aid mobile app. Comparable as a major humanitarian umbrella with overlapping water safety, first aid training, and emergency response missions in Switzerland.
• YMCA (swimming and water safety programs): YMCA operates one of the largest community-based swimming lesson networks in North America with a strong water safety education mandate. Comparable in delivering entry-level swim instruction and water safety programs at scale through a community-based model.

Others

• Bundesamt für Prävention (BFU/BPA): The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU/BPA) is SLRG's strategic partner on the Wasser-Sicherheits-Forum WSF. Comparable as a related (adjacent) public-interest body in Switzerland collaborating on water accident prevention initiatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/slrg-sss

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-gesellschaft Slrg