Surf lifesaving
From Freepedia
Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport.
Contents |
History
Surf lifesaving originated in Australia in the early 1900s in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney. Volunteer groups of men were trained in lifesaving methods and patrolled the beaches as lifeguards looking after public safety.
Which surf life saving club was established first has been a long standing matter of dispute between the Bondi and Bronte clubs. Historian Prof. Ed Jaggard was engaged by Surf Life Saving Australia and concluded Bondi from primary sources. But secondary sources put Bronte first. North Bondi and Manly may also have claims. (See Battle of the Beaches shown on ABC TV [1].)
Rescue Services
Surf Lifesavers provide lifeguard services on beaches in Australia on weekends and public holidays throughout the patrol season on a volunteer basis. In New South Wales the season conicides with the begining of the September school holidays and finishes on Anzac day.
Lifesavers are distinguished in Australia from paid lifeguards which are generally employed by the relevant Local Government authority and patrol the beach throughout the year. Lifeguards also patrol lakes, pools, and other aquatic venues.
Lifesavers are volunteers that typically patrol in groups under a patrol captain for a given period of time on weekend and public holidays under a roster system. In order to be a surf lifesaver a person must hold a bronze medallion and pass an annual proficiency test. Lifesavers who are on patrol wear red and yellow cloth caps on the head. While not performing rescues they are also required to wear longsleave yellow shirts and red shorts to provide protection against the sun. Each surf lifesaving club also has a competition cap with a distinct colours or patterns. These are worn durring competition and for training on the beach. The patrolled area of the beach is marked out with flags and beachgoers are encouraged to swim between the flags. Those wishing to use surfcraft are required to remain outside the flags.
In Australia there are 303 surf lifesaving clubs who collectively patrol over 400 beaches. In the 2003-2004 season there were 24,968 active members - that is those who are rostered to patrol beaches on a regular basis.
In the 2003-2004 patrol season, lifesavers performed 9,044 rescues, provided emergency care to 26,739 patients, and undertook 171,965 preventative actions. Rescue statistics are sourced from individual patrol logs which must be completed during each patrol and are kept by each surf lifesaving club.
Today, surf lifesaving exists in many countries and is still predominantly a volunteer movement. The surf lifesaving movement in Australia is now open to both sexes, and approximately 40% of members are women (see also Surf Lifesavers).
Competition
The other key part of surf lifesaving is the competitive sport which evolved from the training activities of lifeguards at Australian surf beaches, though most events share little with modern inflatable-boat based surf rescue techniques. The sport is still based around the volunteer clubs which perform the rescue duty, from the children in the "nippers" though to professional elite circuits that have been established for the high-profile "ironman" events. The sport is mainly still confined to Australia and New Zealand, although the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service in Canada has held Surf League competitions for the past five summers.
Surf lifesaving clubs regularly hold carnivals where clubs compete with each other in a range of beach- and rescue-oriented events including combined swimming and running, surf ski and surf boat races. The youth arm of the clubs is known as Nippers, and holds similar events.
The various events involve elements of surf swimming, board riding, sand running, mock rescues using rowed surf boats, and paddling special kayak-like surf skis. Some events are for individuals, but many are team events.
Individual surf lifesaving events include:
- Ironman
- Surf boat
- R&R (Rescue & Resuscitation)
- March Past
- Beach events (including Beach Sprints, Beach Relays and Flags)
- Surf Ski
- First Aid Competition, Champion Lifesaver and Patrol Competition
- Board events
- IRB racing
