Cookie Notice
Last updated: 18 July 2026
Version: LN V26.17
1. Purpose of This Notice
This Cookie Notice explains how The LIFEGUARD Organisation trading publicly as LIFEGUARD (“LIFEGUARD”, “we”, “us” or “our”), uses cookies and similar technologies in connection with the website lifeguard.org and associated LIFEGUARD web pages (together, the “Website”).
This Notice should be read together with our:
- Privacy Notice;
- Legal Notice; and
- Terms of Use.
LIFEGUARD seeks to maintain a restrained, privacy-conscious and security-focused Website. The Website is not designed as a behavioural-marketing platform and is not intended to use advertising trackers, social-media pixels, retargeting technologies or unnecessary third-party monitoring tools.
2. What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?
Cookies are small text files stored on, or accessed from, your device when you visit a website.
Similar technologies may include:
- local storage and session storage;
- software development kits and embedded scripts;
- pixels, tags and web beacons;
- device identifiers;
- browser-storage technologies;
- server-side preference records;
- security and fraud-prevention technologies; and
- other technologies that store or access information on your device or help recognise a browser, device or session.
For the purposes of this Notice, the term “cookies” includes these and comparable technologies unless the context requires otherwise.
3. LIFEGUARD’s Cookie Approach
LIFEGUARD uses, or may use, only the minimum level of cookie and similar technology necessary to operate, secure and maintain the Website effectively.
The Website is designed according to the following principles:
- necessary technologies may be used to ensure the Website functions securely and reliably;
- non-essential cookies or similar technologies will not be activated unless and until the required consent has been obtained;
- rejecting optional cookies will not prevent access to the core informational content of the Website;
- LIFEGUARD does not use advertising cookies, retargeting tools or social-media tracking pixels unless this Notice and the consent mechanism are updated accordingly;
- LIFEGUARD does not sell cookie-derived information or use it for unsolicited behavioural advertising;
- cookie preferences may be changed or withdrawn at any time through the Website’s Cookie Settings link.
4. Categories of Cookies and Similar Technologies
4.1 Strictly Necessary Technologies
Strictly necessary cookies and similar technologies are required for the Website to function securely and properly.
They may be used for purposes such as:
- maintaining core Website functionality;
- load balancing and network management;
- protecting the Website against malicious traffic, spam, bots, automated abuse or denial-of-service activity;
- maintaining security settings;
- preserving your cookie-consent preferences;
- detecting technical faults and maintaining system integrity;
- enabling secure administrative functions;
- preventing unauthorised access or misuse.
Because these technologies are necessary for the operation, security or provision of the Website, they may be used without a separate optional-cookie consent, subject to applicable law.
Disabling strictly necessary technologies through browser settings may affect the security, functionality or availability of parts of the Website.
4.2 Functional Preference Technologies
Functional technologies may be used to remember choices that improve your use of the Website, such as language, display or other non-essential preference settings.
LIFEGUARD will use functional preference technologies only where they are necessary for a feature you have specifically requested or where the relevant legal basis or consent has been obtained, as applicable.
At present, the Website is designed to minimise the use of such technologies.
4.3 Analytics and Performance Technologies
Analytics and performance technologies may help website operators understand how visitors use a website, including which pages are visited, whether technical errors occur and whether Website content is functioning effectively.
LIFEGUARD’s intended approach is to avoid unnecessary third-party analytics. Where analytics are used, LIFEGUARD will seek to use the least intrusive and most privacy-conscious configuration reasonably available.
Unless an analytics technology is strictly necessary or otherwise permitted by applicable law, it will not be activated without your prior consent.
Where analytics are introduced, the Website will provide appropriate information concerning:
- the identity of the provider;
- the purpose of the technology;
- the categories of information processed;
- the duration of storage;
- whether information is transferred outside your jurisdiction;
- how to accept, reject or withdraw consent.
4.4 Advertising, Social-Media and Profiling Technologies
LIFEGUARD does not currently intend to use:
- behavioural advertising cookies;
- retargeting technologies;
- advertising measurement pixels;
- social-media tracking pixels;
- cross-site tracking tools;
- third-party marketing tags;
- personalised advertising technologies;
- online behavioural profiling tools.
Should LIFEGUARD decide to introduce any such technology in the future, it will update this Cookie Notice and implement an appropriate consent mechanism before the technology is activated, where required by applicable law.
5. Current Cookie Register
The table below must reflect the technologies actually deployed on the live Website. It should be reviewed before launch and whenever Website functionality, hosting arrangements, consent tools, analytics or third-party integrations change.
No entry should be included in this table unless it reflects a technology that is actually active on the live Website.
Conversely, every active cookie, script, pixel, tag, browser-storage mechanism or similar technology that stores or accesses information on a visitor’s device should be reviewed for inclusion.
6. Consent for Optional Cookies
Where LIFEGUARD uses optional cookies or similar technologies for analytics, functionality, advertising, social-media integration, profiling or other non-essential purposes, we will seek consent where required by applicable law.
Where consent is required, LIFEGUARD’s cookie mechanism will be designed to provide:
- clear and accessible information about each optional category;
- a genuine ability to accept or reject optional cookies;
- an option to manage preferences by category;
- no pre-selected optional categories;
- no activation of non-essential technologies before the relevant consent is obtained;
- a straightforward method to withdraw or change consent;
- clear access to this Cookie Notice and the Privacy Notice.
Consent may be withdrawn at any time through the Cookie Settings link in the Website footer or through the relevant preference-management tool.
Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing undertaken before consent was withdrawn.
7. How to Manage Your Preferences
You may manage cookie preferences through the Website’s Cookie Settings link, which should be available in the Website footer and, where applicable, through the cookie banner or preference centre.
Through Cookie Settings, you may generally:
- accept all optional cookies;
- reject all optional cookies;
- accept or reject individual cookie categories;
- withdraw prior consent;
- review the current cookie categories and relevant providers.
You may also manage cookies through your browser or device settings. Most browsers allow users to:
- view stored cookies;
- delete individual cookies;
- delete all cookies;
- block cookies from particular websites;
- block all cookies;
- restrict certain types of browser storage;
- receive notifications before cookies are stored.
Please note that browser-level settings may not remove all forms of browser storage, may not preserve your preference across devices or browsers, and may affect the functioning of certain Website features.
8. Third-Party Providers
LIFEGUARD may use carefully selected third-party providers for hosting, website-security, content-delivery, consent-management, communications, technical support or other operational purposes.
Some providers may set or access strictly necessary technologies in order to provide secure hosting, prevent malicious activity, manage Website performance or maintain essential technical functions.
LIFEGUARD seeks to ensure that third-party providers are assessed appropriately and subject to suitable contractual, confidentiality, security and data-protection obligations.
Where an optional third-party technology is introduced, the Cookie Register will be updated to identify the provider and describe the relevant purpose, category, storage period and consent status.
9. International Transfers
Some service providers supporting the Website may process information from locations outside the European Economic Area, Austria, Malta, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.
Where information obtained through cookies or similar technologies involves personal data and is transferred internationally, LIFEGUARD will seek to ensure that an appropriate transfer mechanism and relevant safeguards are used in accordance with applicable law.
Further information regarding international transfers is available in the Privacy Notice.
10. Personal Data and Privacy Rights
Cookies and similar technologies may process personal data where they identify, relate to, describe, can be linked to or can reasonably be associated with an individual, browser or device.
Information about how LIFEGUARD processes personal data, including applicable rights of access, correction, deletion, restriction, objection, portability and complaint, is set out in the Privacy Notice.
For privacy-related questions or requests, please contact:
Privacy Office
Email: privacy@lifeguard.org
11. Changes to This Cookie Notice
LIFEGUARD may update this Cookie Notice to reflect changes in:
- Website functionality;
- hosting or security arrangements;
- cookie-consent technology;
- analytics or performance tools;
- third-party service providers;
- applicable law or regulatory guidance;
- LIFEGUARD’s privacy and security practices.
The current version will be published on the Website together with the “Last updated” date.
Where a change is material, and additional notice or renewed consent is required, LIFEGUARD will take appropriate steps before activating the affected technology.
12. Contact
For questions concerning this Cookie Notice, cookies, similar technologies or cookie preferences, please contact:
Privacy Office
LIFEGUARD Legal Affairs Dept.
Email: privacy@lifeguard.org
Postal address: Gußhausstraße 6, 1040 Vienna
For general Website or legal enquiries:
Legal and Intellectual Property Office
Email: legal@lifeguard.org