It’s been a busy patrol season thus far for lifeguards from across the Far North Coast, but the group found time to sharpen their skills last month after they were invited to participate in an important training session with other local emergency services.
Lifeguards from the Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shire areas and their supervisors joined Marine Rescue NSW and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter for two days of extensive training in late February.
The aim of the sessions were to engage in practical scenario training as well as ensuring all of the participating agencies were comfortable and familiar with the operational capabilities of each asset.
Some of the skills that were practiced included the highly complex manoeuvres of transferring patients between assets, a skill that will certainly come in handy when dealing with rescues on Far North Coast Beaches.
“Having access to this type of practical scenario training ensures that all agencies are rescue ready when we are tasked to save lives and respond effectively to emergencies along our coastal waters,” said Australian Lifeguard Service Education Coordinator Ruben Roxburgh.
“From our perspective having the ALS involved in this training this training ensures that the Far North Coast emergency responders have a better understanding of our service, the equipment and response capabilities we have, while also confirming that we are a major part of the marine emergency response services utilised across NSW.”
In recent years rescue agencies including the ALS have been actively working to develop strong relationships, relationships which will prove crucial in time critical situations and coming together in training sessions such as this will only strengthen the bond.
Ultimately the beneficiaries of this acquired skills and knowledge will be the beachgoers of the Far North Coast.
Tuesday 27 March 2018