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As NSW slowly emerged from the depths of winter, thousands of patrolling lifesavers from all over the state eagerly anticipated the coming spring when they could once again resume their task of keeping a watchful eye on our beautiful beaches.

From tomorrow volunteer surf lifesavers will plant the red and yellow flag on their respective beaches as the 2016/17 season officially gets underway.



The cooler months have been a welcome respite for our volunteers who did a wonderful job last season when they carried out over 6000 rescues, administered more than 14,000 first aid treatments, and ensured that no person drowned while swimming between the flags.



Despite their best efforts there were 53 drowning deaths in season 2015/16, the highest on record, and an issue that all lifesavers are working hard to address.



Many of our surf lifesavers continued to contribute to their clubs throughout the offseason developing their skills through development programs, attending conferences, and being part of on-call teams who would provide any Surf Life Saving assets to help in any coastal emergency if required.



Volunteer surf lifesavers provide a reassuring presence at beaches, are well trained in injury management, and very knowledgeable about local conditions. We strongly encourage your guests to swim at a patrolled location.



Emphasising this point, a sobering statistic, came to light in the 2015/16 season. In 62% of all drowning deaths the victim was in waters greater than 5 kilometres from a lifesaving service. This meant that should a difficulty arise help was further away.



To help keep your guests safe while at the beach we have developed some useful tips that you as accommodation providers are more than welcome to share.



General Safety Tips:



• Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website

• Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information

• Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water

• Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm • In an emergency, dial Triple Zero Police

• Don’t forget to be sun safe by remembering to: Slip on some protective clothing, Slop on some sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Slide on a pair of sunglasses, Seek some shade and Sip on lots of water to stay hydrated

• For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App





Volunteer surf lifesavers will be patrolling NSW beaches each weekend and public holiday from Saturday 24 September 2016 until Tuesday 25 April 2017



 



Friday September 2016