Lifeguards perform 17,667 tasks over 79,000 hours
Surf life saving clubs on the Northern Beaches have reported a busy season, including one drowning.
So far this summer, Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers on the Northern Beaches have conducted 438 rescues, 1,850 first aids – 800 up from last year – and 43 ambulance calls.
The most dramatic rescue so far was the saving of three boys from the Warriewood blowhole on 21 January, undertaken by 16-year-old Saskia Rundle Trowbridge of the local SLS club. Injuries were limited to one concussion.
Surf patrols had carried out 17,667 preventative actions over 79,000 patrol hours this season up to 18 January, said Tracey Hare-Boyd, chief executive officer of SLS Northern Beaches.
Most water-related rescues were caused by rip-currents, with the majority of first aid treatments due to blue bottle stings, cuts or abrasions, SLSNSW added. Significant injuries included broken bones and spinal injuries.
Andrew Clark, director of life saving at Avalon Beach SLSC, told PLP that the club was focussing on preventative actions. Mr Clark said they used signs on the beach, with messages such as ‘patrolled area this way’ or ‘dangerous current,’ and had boards and tubes available on the beach for prompt action.
Rescuers intervened as early as possible and made quick assessments of people’s swimming abilities, he added.
The club’s publicity officer Roger Sayers said that the club had three emergency rescue boards for out-of- hours rescues.
“They are a floatation device for anyone confident enough to use them,” said Mr Sayers. “People should never attempt rescues without floatation devices because that potentially means two people need to be rescued.”
There were two drownings on the NSW coastline in just 24 hours on 18 January, including a woman in her 30s at unpatrolled Shelly Beach, which brought the state’s coastal drowning total to 11.
In a statement, SLSNSW chief executive officer Steve Pearce stressed the importance of swimming between the flags.
“To have two coastal drownings in such a short space of time is a tough reflection on how risky it can be to enter the water,” Mr Pearce said.
“Both of these drownings occurred at unpatrolled locations, and we reiterate that if you plan to visit the coastline, the safest thing you can do is head to a beach where you see the red and yellow flags flying.”
