BEACH PATROLS
The beach patrol is a team of volunteer members rostered onto duty for a specified time. The patrol team is coordinated by the Patrol Captain who is responsible for the coordination of actions in monitoring the beach and in times of rescue and emergency care.
There are many different ways in which Lifesavers patrol the beach to make it as safe as possible for the community. The different methods are used based off a risk management process, with the parameters of surf conditions, beach access, beach visitations and personnel.
TYPES OF PATROL
- Traditional method (between the flags)
This is the most commonly used patrol method: it requires the setting of flags at the best place for the bathing public, taking into consideration the prevailing sur conditions, accessibility of the public, and beach usage. It involves placing a full patrol and equipment on the beach. The Surf Life Savers then restrict the bathing community to this are by watching at both ends of the flagged area, and use the patrol area as a base.
Roving is used in conjunction with the traditional method. The flagged area is set and manned, as in the traditional method. The patrol captain then designates pairs of patrol members who move back and forth along the beach, watching outside the flagged areas. This method of patrol can use IRB’s and beach vehicles and extends the boundaries of the patrol.
This method involves using the traditional patrolling system at the most popular swimming area but allows a minimum patrol (outpost) to be set up, usually without flags, at a less popular area. This type of patrol also enables clubs to provide a life saving services to beaches that have no surf life saving clubs.
This may involve erecting lifesaving towers or observation points at intervals along the beach. Each tower has an overlapping rescue capability with the other towers, but there should be nothing to prevent full surveillance, such as rock groynes, sand dunes etc. There are no flags put up. However, the community identifies the tower as a lifesaving reference point. Nevertheless, the location must be considered low risk and random mobile patrols should be conducted.
This method requires the minimum SLSA patrol size and ensures that an adequate patrol is present when there are usually only few people on the beach; for example, in the early mornings, late afternoons, and in bad weather.
PATROL EQUIPMENT
|
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT |
QUANTITY |
|
Communication Equipment |
|
Patrol Flags on 3.6m poles |
2 |
|
Swimming Prohibited Sign/Flag on 3.6m pole |
1 |
|
Surf Craft Prohibited Signs/Flags on 3.6m poles |
2 |
|
Surf Rescue Craft Training Signs |
2 |
|
SLSA Signal Flags |
2 |
|
Shark Flag |
1 |
|
Loud Hailer |
1 |
|
Whistle |
1 |
|
Telephone |
1 |
|
Hand Held Radio |
2 |
|
Shark Bell/alarm |
1 |
|
Rescue Equipment |
|
IRB Hull |
1 |
|
IRB Motor |
2 |
|
Rescue Tube |
1 |
|
Rescue Board |
1 |
|
RWC |
Opt |
|
Rescue Vehicles (ATV etc) |
Opt |
|
Flippers |
1 |
|
Medical Equipment |
|
Air Bag Resuscitator |
1 |
|
Spare Oxygen Cylinders |
2 |
|
Portable First Aid Kit |
1 |
|
Personal Patrol Packs |
1 each |
|
First Aid Room |
1 |
|
Spinal Board and Blanket |
1 |
|
Stiff Neck Collars |
1 set |
|
Defibrillator |
Opt |
|
General |
|
Patrol Uniforms |
1 each |
|
Patrol Shelter |
1 |
|
Portable Patrol Shelter |
1 | | 
