ILS leads, collaborates and partners with national and international organisations to prevent drowning, to promote the provision of lifesaving services and oversee lifesaving sport throughout the world with the following specific objectives:

1. Lead the global effort to develop and recommend best practice in drowning prevention, aquatic lifesaving, resuscitation and emergency care.
2. Teach lifesaving and establish educational exchanges of aquatic lifesaving techniques and operations.
3. Exchange medical and scientific experiences in the field of aquatic lifesaving and drowning prevention.
4. Encourage the conduct of training and development of standards available to the whole of the aquatic lifesaving world for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport.
5. Extend the teachings and activities of ILS to all places throughout the world and communicate and act in co-operation with other international humanitarian bodies.
6. Promote uniformity concerning equipment, information, symbols and laws for control and regu¬lation within the aquatic environment.
7. Promote and organise lifesaving sports and regularly organise international aquatic lifesaving competitions in order to stimulate the interest of competitors to improve their ability and willingness to save people who are in danger in the aquatic environment.
8. Encourage and oversee the convening of international congresses for the purpose of creating links of friendship, solidarity and collaboration between Members and other international bodies which pursue the same humanitarian goals.
9. Encourage measures to prevent the pollution of waters and beaches and other elements, which are dangerous to the public and users of the aquatic environment.
10. Take such other actions as ILS considers will advance these Objectives.

ILS is allowed to undertake all actions, engage in all activities and execute all legal instruments, which are useful, necessary or which directly or indirectly contribute to the achievement of the above mentioned objectives.