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Patrol Operations Manual
Patrol Operations Manuals (POMs) are designed to outline specific local beach management/response plans which will help all members, from existing Patrol Captains to new Bronze members, to familiarise themselves with the local beach hazards/risk and the management plans for the hazards and risks.
The POMs have been overhauled with the support of a review panel and member feedback to create a more succinct POM template for clubs to work from with information that is already inputted into SurfGuard no longer required in the POM ensuring that the POM does not require in-depth updating each season. Clubs should utilise the SLSNSW generic template to create their POM.
Club Radio Procedures
Suggested Scenarios for use on Patrol
Surf Life Saving Australia has developed suggested scenarios to be used for additional training on quieter patrol days. These scenarios can be led by Patrol Captains and are a great way to get newer members engaged during patrol, while also keeping all patrol members skills at a high level and ready to respond to an emergency.
Patrol Swaps
SLSA has also developed a ‘Patrol Swap’ feature that is available on the Members Portal [external]. Patrol Swaps enables members to indicate when they will be unable to attend a patrol therefore inviting other club members to replace them. Club members can also accept to replace for another member who is unable to patrol. Members can manage their replacements with other club members via the Members Portal then under the ‘Lifesaving Online’ tab. To use this feature, members will need to create a Members Portal Account by visiting portal.sls.com.au [external]. Members can view their roster and access Patrol Swaps by clicking the ‘Lifesaving Online’ tab, then clicking the ‘Patrols’ tab.
For more information on how to use the Patrol Swaps feature, please read the Patrol Swap – Members User Guide.
As a club officer/administrator, please read the Patrol Swap – SurfGuard Administrators Guide for more information on how to setup and manage the Patrol Swaps feature.
Procedures Guide
Revised in line with the Standard Operating Procedures, the guide is a ‘must have item’ for all lifesaving patrol personnel, especially Club Captains and Patrol Captains. The Procedure Guide is ‘pocket sized’ and produced on waterproof paper to enable it to be a quick reference on patrol. The guide focuses on the following key areas:
- Preparation
- General Operations
- Emergency Operations
- Recovery Operations
- Communications
To purchase additional Procedure Guides for your Patrol Captains and senior members, please fill in and submit the order form.
Patrol Audit Program
Branches should have an established Patrol Audit Program as per the requirements of the SLSNSW SOPs (V5). Branches are expected to deliver the requirements of the program (4 Audits per club) by the due dates in order to be compliant for the following season. Clubs are encouraged to utilise the patrol audit program as a self-assessment tool to assess club assets and personnel, maintaining the clubs overall compliance throughout the season. The Patrol Audit Program is currently being reviewed; information on the review will be delivered throughout the season.
Breaches of Lifesaving Standards
The ‘Breaches of Lifesaving Standards Guide’ outlines the identification/notification/response responsibilities for clubs, branches and SLSNSW in resolving breaches of lifesaving standards to ensure a consistent and structured approach. The aim of the guide is to outline a clear notification process that prevents a breach occurring in the first instance, or from repeated breaches occurring. A breach of lifesaving standards is outlined within the guide, however they are based on the Lifesaving Service Agreement, Standard Operating Procedures and Patrol Operations Manual.
Lifesaving Resources
All clubs/services should be inputting their Incident Report Logs and Patrol Logs into SurfGuard within two weeks of the associated patrol. This up to date information ensures that hotspots and trends are identified as early as possible, enabling time for preventative solutions to be put in place as well as providing accurate statistic figures for sponsors and media outlets to report the ongoing hard work of our volunteers.