 |
|
| BEACH, SURF & WATER SAFETY TIPS | |
| PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD WORK | MERITORIOUS & OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS |
| PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD AWARDS | COMMUNITY BEACH WATER SAFETY EDUCATION |
| BEACH, SURF & WATER SAFETY TIPS |
Always Think Beach Safety - Tips for Swimmers
| SWIMMING AND SAFETY | OTHER AQUATIC ACTIVITY | ||
|
|
Swimming permitted |
|
Waterskiing permitted |
|
|
Swimming prohibited |
|
Waterskiing prohibited |
|
|
Surfboard riding permitted |
|
Scuba diving permitted |
|
|
Surfboard riding prohibited |
|
Scuba diving prohibited |
|
|
Diving prohibited |
|
Fishing permitted |
|
|
Bodyboards permitted |
|
Fishing prohibited |
|
|
Bodyboards prohibited |
|
Snorkelling prohibited |
|
|
Beware sudden drop-off |  |
Personal water craft prohibited |
|
|
Beware deep water |
|
Spearfishing prohibited |
|
|
Beware of sharks |
|
Personal water craft permitted |
|
|
Beware of shallow water when diving |
|
Vessels prohibited |
|
|
Direction to lifesaving patrol |
|
Board sailing permitted |
|
|
Board sailing prohibited | ||
|
|
Beware of cliff ledge | ||
| PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD WORK |
Professional ocean lifeguard work requires an individual to be experienced in surfing, well trained in communication and rescue and highly motivated for preventing beach and water related accidents. Personal requirements include being:
Contact APOLA for a full information kit.
| PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD AWARDS |
 |
Education and Training APOLA, through the APOLA Board of Education, Training, Examination and Awards, provides a comprehensive awards system for professional lifeguards and community groups as well as a number of specific education and training initiatives in concert with other professional bodies The community awards strand caters for beach water safety education and training for pre school, school, adult, senior adult, workplace, aquatic sports coaches, teachers and specific needs groups. |
| Contact APOLA or check the Noticeboard on this website for training with an aquatic focus and more for information on courses that include: Senior First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, Spinal Management, Automatic External Defibrillation and specific rescue equipment awards such as LPC (jet ski with rescue sled) and training for school teachers, surf coaches and professional ocean lifeguards. |
 |
Gold Coast City Council Lifeguards using rescue boards and rescue tubes at the 1999 Annual Conference at Flynns Beach, Port Macquarie NSW |
 |
 |
 |
| MERITORIOUS & OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS |
National Lifeguard of the Year
| 1998 | Carl Vanzino, Sutherland Shire Council. |
| 1999 | Chris Maynard, Gold Coast City Council. |
| 2000 | Terry McDermott, Gosford City Council. |
| 2001 | Stuart Cordingley, Caloundra City Council. |
| 2002 | Paul Stone, Gosford City Council. |
| 2003 | Jamie Martin, Hastings City Council. |
| 2004 | Milton Brunton, Gold Coast City Council. |
| 2005 | Tony Richards, Port Macquarie-Hastings City Council. |
| 2006 | Bruce Hopkins, Waverley Council |
| 2007 | Rob Dorrough, Gold Coast City Council |
| 2008 | Terry Hagan, Wollongong City Council |
| 2009 | Andy Mole, Kiama Council |
| COMMUNITY BEACH WATER SAFETY EDUCATION |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Beaches, Boating and Rock Fishing.
BEACHES
Q: Where should I swim at the beach?
Swim between the red and yellow beach flags which indicate
beach patrol - swimming permitted. This area is set up on a daily
basis and is constantly under surveillance.
Q: Who watches swimmers between the red and yellow flags?
Professional lifeguards and weekend volunteer lifesavers ensure that people swimming between the red and yellow flags are constantly under surveillance. Many coastal Councils employ professional ocean lifeguards at beaches 5, 6 or 7 days each week during the swimming season or all year round at their most popular beaches. Volunteer lifesavers also attend patrols on weekends during the summer swimming season.
Q: What signs are used at beaches?
Australian Standard water safety signs are used at beaches to help provide information, warn people of particular hazards, and to regulate or prohibit some activities. If you are unsure of what a sign means, then ask an on-duty professional lifeguard or volunteer lifesaver.
Q: What if I am unsure about the water conditions?
Approach the professional lifeguard or weekend volunteer lifesaver
and ask about the conditions.
Q: How do I recognise professional lifeguards and volunteer
lifesavers?
Professional lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers are located
in or near prominently identified equipment including beach shelters,
survelliance towers, 4WD vehicles, lifeguard powercraft and inshore
rescue boats. Council professional lifeguards typically wear long-sleeved
white shirts with blue collars and cuffs with the word LIFEGUARD
in red block letters on the front and back of their workshirt
and blue shorts/tracksuit pants. Volunteer lifesavers wear red
and yellow including the red and yellow skull cap.
Q: What is a rip?
A rip is a seaward-moving water current. After waves have broken and run shorewards the accumulated water then moves seaward through a pathway of least resistance which usually is a channel called a rip. Rips are the cause of numerous tragedies or near drowning.
Q: Where do rips occur?
Rips occur whenever there is wave activity at beaches, in and around rocks, breakwalls or any permanent fixture in the ocean. The larger the waves, the stronger and larger are the rips. Most seaward-running rips usually stop running not to far beyond the area where waves break unless it is very high surf.
Q: What do I do if I get caught in a rip?
Cross currents can cause people to be washed sideways away
from swimming areas which typically are located where waves break
on sandbars. Staying calm is essential. Saving energy in not swimming
directly against the rip is important. Strong swimmers however,
if the rip isn't too strong can swim at an angle across the rip
to escape the seaward current. At beaches where the swimming area
is identified with red and yellow flags it is best to request
assistance if caught in a rip by waving an arm and calling out
for help. Floating and conserving energy is important until help
arrives. Struggling against a rip is a quick way to exhaustion
that can lead to panic and tragedy.
Q: What equipment do lifeguards use?
Council professional ocean lifeguards are trained in beach management and emergency response. They are highly skilled in the use of a range of first aid and rescue equipment including: rescue boards, rescue tubes, neck braces, spinal boards, defibrillators, trauma paks, analgesic gas radio communication, quad cycles, 4WD response vehicles, lifeguard powercraft with rescue sleds, water safety signage and protective equipment.
BOATING
Q: When and why should I check the weather conditions before I
go out boating?
A thorough check of weather conditions is vital every time
one goes boating. This includes having an appreciation of how
the conditions may change throughout the day. A forecast change
in weather for example may result in relatively calm conditions
in the morning turning into potentially dangerous conditions in
the afternoon.
Make sure your vessel is appropriate for the conditions and that you have the necessary experience to handle the forecast conditions. Remember if in doubt, don't go out.
Q: I've been boating for years and can swim OK, do I still
need to wear a life jacket?
Life jackets or PFDs are an important safety item on any boat
and there should be one on board for each person. Children and
poor swimmers should always wear a PFD.
Make sure that your life jacket is in good condition, accessible and ready for use because a life jacket stowed way will not do the job it was designed for.
Q: Is it OK to have a few beers when out on the water in
a boat?
The combination of wind waves and weather can multiply the
effects of alcohol and collectively are known as 'boater fatigue'.
Persons with 'boater fatigue' are at a greater risk of drowning
should they fall into the water.
The blood alcohol limits are the same on the water as on our roads. A person in charge of a vessel must keep under the 0.05 blood alcohol limit. For commercial vessel operators the lower blood alcohol limit of 0.02 applies.
ROCKFISHING
Q: Is rockfishing safe?
Rock fishing is probably the most dangerous marine sport in Australia. Every year people are die from rock fishing. If you want to rockfish, learn how to minimise the risks.
Q: How can I reduce the risks of rock fishing?
The three main ways to reduce the risks of rock fishing are:
1) check and understand the weather conditions and tides before
you leave home
2) never fish alone
3) wear the right fishing gear.
Q: What is the best type of gear to wear when rock fishing?
Wear gear that stops you from slipping into the water or reduces
problems if you do go into the surf. Wear shoes with non-slip
soles or cleats. Rock plates or cleats are essential on wet, weedy
rocks. Wear lightweight clothing and a flotation jacket, so that
if you're swept off rocks, you are buoyant and your clothes don't
drag you underwater. Also, wear head protection because many people
who have drowned when swept off rocks have received some sort
of head injury.
Q: How do I know if a spot is safe for rock fishing?
No place is perfectly safe for rock fishing. To minimise risks,
fish only with others in places where experienced anglers go.
Spend at least half an hour watching the wind and wave action
before deciding whether a place is suitable. Think - what will
your fishing spot be like in a few hours time with different tides
and weather change?
Q: Do I need a fishing licence when rock fishing?
If you're over 18 and not a pensioner, you need a licence
to fish in NSW. This includes rock fishing and collecting bait.
You can buy your licence from hundreds of local agents (bait and
tackle shops, caravan parks, general stores and service stations);
on the internet at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au or by phoning 1300
369 365.
Q: I do enjoy collecting abalone, oysters or other molluscs
off the rocks. Is this as dangerous as rock fishing?
Whenever you're on coastal rocks where waves can sweep you
into the water, you should follow the same practical guidelines
to minimise the risk of being washed away - know and understand
the weather conditions and tides, don't go alone, and wear the
right gear, especially non-slip shoes. And remember you need a
fishing licence when collecting any marine creatures, even by
hand.
Contact the APOLA office for information on courses for ocean lifeguards, surf coaches, teachers and school and comunity groups.
 |
 |
 |
||
| Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association | ||||
| www.apola.asn.au | ||||
|
|
|
|
||
