Surf Life Saving

Surf Lifesaving is Australia’s major water safety. Drowning prevention and rescue authority. Surf Lifesaving represents the lifestyle, values and beliefs of the Australian culture. Their actions protects life, it saves lives and it promotes life. They are there to create a safe environment in and around our beaches, through patrols, on in and above the shore and through education and training programs. For people young and old, surf lifesaving inspires a positive and unique Australian attitude, because every member, every club, the entire movement embraces and promotes a “can do” attitude to life.

Surf Lifesaving

• We as Australians have always enjoyed the surf. But, in the last century, they were not allowed to swim in daytime, in case they were offended by the sight of their bodies

• Later in 1902, William Gocher, a Sydney man, broke the law by swimming in daylight at Manly Beach. In 1903 the law changed and daytime swimming became legal. Men and women were not allowed to swim together. Men had to wear suits that covered them from their neck to their knees, while women had to swim in loose dresses, stockings, shoes and caps.

• Soon swimmers were getting drowned and the rest had to rescue them. They either formed chains to rescue the drowning person or they used an old whaling boat belonging to the Sly Brothers of Manly.

• Later inflatable rescue boats copied this double-ended design. Surf Lifesaving originated from Australia, even though other countries had looked at it as a sport.

History

• Carnivals are held for surf lifesaving club members to show their skills.

• Surf lifesavers race each other in swimming, watercrafts, running and pretend rescue events.

• Each summer there is a march held at the surf carnival.• Members of each club march in their special coloured caps and

outfits, carrying the clubs, flag and reel.• It includes ages from children between 7 - 14 years of age for

under 16s and under 18s. Adults can compete in the juniors masters and open competitions.

• To compete, lifesavers must be patrolling members of the club. So they can compete against other clubs / in state championships / the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships.

Competitions

ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE Cost $17,500Allows lifesavers to respond quickly to incidents along with essential gear & equipment such as rescue boards and First Aid kits.

DEFIBRILLATOR Cost $5,000Defibrillators are a vital piece of equipment for successful resuscitation of a patient who has suffered cardiac arrest.

FIRST AID KIT Cost $400The First Aid Kit is an essential resource to every Surf Life Saving Club.  INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT Cost $18,000Designed specifically for Surf Life Saving, the Inflatable Rescue Boat is an essential piece of rescue equipment, and an ideal tool for:- quick response to a rescue- mass rescues- patrolling stretches of beaches

MANIKIN Cost $550Surf Lifesavers develop their essential resuscitation skills through effective training and constant practice. Manikins allow lifesavers to simulate resuscitation skills they may one day need to use to save a life.

NECK BRACE Cost $40An adjustable brace is used when a patient is suspected of having a spinal injury.

OXYGEN BOTTLE Cost $40An oxygen bottle is used in conjunction with an Oxy Viva to increase the oxygen in a patient's blood stream following: exhaustion, near drowning, cardiac arrest or allergic reactions.

OXY VIVA Cost $3,500The Oxy Viva is vital to the recovery of a patient and often used to increase the oxygen in the patient's blood stream following near drowning or cardiac arrest.Equipment

RESCUE WATER CRAFT Cost $22,500RWC's are a fast, highly manoeuvrable piece of equipment ideally suited to the surf environment. Whether used for roving patrols in or outside the red and yellow flags or to respond to an emergency.

SPINAL BOARD Cost $500Essential for spinal injury cases and moving patients unable to walk.

UHF HAND HELD RADIOS Cost $800Hand Held radios are an essential tool used by lifesavers to communicate effectively and efficiently. They are used to call for assistance when conducting a rescue.

LOUD HAILERS Cost $160Loud Hailers are used by lifesavers to advise board riders to remain clear of the flags and to immediately inform the public of a hazard on the beach or in the ocean.

PATROL PACK Cost $50The patrol pack allows surf lifesavers to carry the most commonly used lifesaving items with them on patrol. The patrol pack saves precious time. 

PATROL TOWERS Cost $2,600Patrol Towers are used by lifesavers to provide a greater visibility of the swimming areas.

RESCUE BOARD Cost $1,300The rescue board is designed for a lifesaver to perform a rescue and transfer the patient back into shore.

RESCUE TUBE Cost $120An effective and very widely used rescue device that allows a lifesaver to take floatation to a patient and secure them back to shore. Rescue tubes play a significant role in contributing to the thousands of rescues that occur each year. Equipme

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• Red flags means no swimming • Red and yellow flags means there are lifeguards patrolling in the

area so it is safe to swim• Yellow flags means to seek advice • Black and white flags means it’s a surfing area and there’s no

swimming allowed• Green flags mean it is safe to swim• White and blue flags means NO DIVING usually used in cliff areas

Flags

Every parent wants their child to lead a happy, healthy and active youth. There is no better place than introducing your child to surf lifesaving and nippers.Nippers is a junior program that allows children aged 5 to 13 to surf lifesaving. It is a fun outdoor activity that can also increase your child’s confidence, teaches valuable life skills and knowledge. Every surf life saving club around Australia offers a nippers program, all with various styles and sizes.The youth of today are the future of Surf Life Saving, and the Nippers pathway teaches lessons and skills allowing them to continue in lifesaving and sport as they grow older. But it’s not hard work, Nippers is a great way for children to make friends, be active and enjoy the beach in a safe environment.

What Is A Nipper?

A surf lifesaver is a trained volunteer that patrols our beaches on the weekends. They undertake a number of roles including aquatic rescues, providing first aid and emergency care and providing surf safety information to the public. Becoming a surf lifesaver is satisfying, fun and rewarding. You can lead a fit and healthy lifestyle, become trained in aquatic safety skills, make new mates and friends, compete in surf sports, and give something back to your local community. You may also help save someone’s life one day. To become a surf lifesaver you need to join your local surf life saving club. You will then need to obtain your Bronze Medallion training qualification. To obtain this you must be over the age of 15 and demonstrate proficiency in surf awareness, survival, patrol and rescue procedures, emergency care plus anatomy and physiology. Once you’ve successfully completed this and you have signed up with your local club, you will be wearing the red and yellow, and can proudly call yourself a surf lifesaver. Your club will then assign your patrolling hours.

How to become a Surf lifesaver

On the 4On the 4thth of March 2011, a group of 15 students and three teachers from of March 2011, a group of 15 students and three teachers from Shelford Girls' Grammar School in Caulfield were snorkelling near Bells Shelford Girls' Grammar School in Caulfield were snorkelling near Bells Beach. It was a beautiful evening when a freak wave swamped them. Five Beach. It was a beautiful evening when a freak wave swamped them. Five schoolgirls were pulled into the strong current, dragged under deep water schoolgirls were pulled into the strong current, dragged under deep water where they were battered by swells as they struggled against a ferocious rip. where they were battered by swells as they struggled against a ferocious rip. Southside, where the incident occurred was unpatrolled.Southside, where the incident occurred was unpatrolled.The group were snorkelling between the shore and a patch of reef when big The group were snorkelling between the shore and a patch of reef when big waves hit. While Mr Simpson was desperately trying to rescue his students he waves hit. While Mr Simpson was desperately trying to rescue his students he tragically loss his life. His body was said to be washed out twice, They tragically loss his life. His body was said to be washed out twice, They managed to get him near to the shore but apparently the rip must have managed to get him near to the shore but apparently the rip must have picked him up again and taken him further out. Locals said the swell grew picked him up again and taken him further out. Locals said the swell grew through the day and was dangerous by the afternoon. Students watched as through the day and was dangerous by the afternoon. Students watched as ambulance officers tried to revive Mr Simpson. Unfortunately conditions were ambulance officers tried to revive Mr Simpson. Unfortunately conditions were too rough for the air ambulance to winch the his body from the beach. too rough for the air ambulance to winch the his body from the beach. Mr Paul Simpson has been remembered as a heroic and passionate teacher.Mr Paul Simpson has been remembered as a heroic and passionate teacher.

The Dark Side behind every Surf