Surf lifesaving
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. Originating in early 20th century Australia, the movement has expanded globally to such countries as New Zealand and South Africa.
Contents |
[edit] History
Surf lifesaving originated in Australia in the early 1900s in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney. The first official surf lifesaving group to be founded anywhere in Australia was established in February (21) 1907 at Sydney's Bondi Beach and was called the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club. This was recorded in the newspaper The East Sydney Argus and the Waverley Council Minutes acknowledging receipt of a letter from the newly formed group. Other informal groups had existed at Bronte and Manly beaches but this was the first official group. Such groups became necessary following the relaxing of laws prohibiting daylight bathing on Australian beaches[1]. Volunteer groups of men were trained in lifesaving methods and patrolled the beaches as lifeguards looking after public safety.
[edit] Rescue services
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 long-sleeve yellow shirts and red shorts to provide protection against the sun. Support Service Lifesavers are required to wear the appropriate functional attire. This includes wetsuits for RWC (Rescue Water Craft) drivers, JRB/ORB (jet and offshore rescue boat) crew. The crews of various Lifesaver helicopter services over the country wear appropriate aviation equipment. Each surf lifesaving club also has a competition cap with distinct colours or patterns. These are worn during 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.
[edit] 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 Rescue Boat (IRB) 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 started the Nova Scotia Surf League competitions every summer since 2000. In Europe the sport is increasingly developed, with Spain and Germany particularly strong and the UK developing rapidly.
Surf lifesaving clubs regularly hold surf 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
- Surfboat
- 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
[edit] Lifesaving around the world
[edit] In Australia
Surf lifesaving in Australia is well-developed as both a voluntary lifeguard service and as a competitive sport. There are 303 surf lifesaving clubs in Australia that collectively patrol over 400 beaches. In the 2003-2004 season there were 24,968 active members (those who are rostered to patrol regularly), of which approximately 40% are women. In the 2003-2004 patrol season, lifesavers performed 9,044 rescues, provided emergency care to 26,739 patients, and undertook 171,965 preventative actions.
Surf Lifesavers provide important 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 coincides with the beginning of the September school holidays and finishes on ANZAC Day. They also provide year-round on-call volunteer rescue services in most areas known as Support Services.
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. Support Services also operate to augment the patrols on the beach by providing surveillance away from the flag areas and emergency back-up when required.
[edit] In the British Isles
Lifesaving and lifeguarding are promoted as a sport and a life skill by the Royal Life Saving Society UK. There are over 2000 lifesaving clubs based throughout the UK and Ireland, which teach skills such as drowning prevention, life support and personal survival. The learning of lifesaving takes place in a variety of water environments, such as swimming pools, inland water venues and at coastal locations. Often clubs coach their members towards achieving RLSS awards, the flagship award being the Bronze Medallion. Subsequent awards include the Award of Merit, which is followed by Open Water exams of the Bronze and Siver Crosses. The final award of lifesaving is that of Distinction, an award that demands a very high level of skill from the participant. Training programmes exist for all ages, from young children to adults. Some lifesaving and lifeguard clubs operate as volunteer organisations, providing safety cover at locations where there would otherwise be none.
The RLSS organises both national and regional speed and skills competitions and many clubs, including university affiliated clubs (organised through the British Universities Lifesaving Clubs Association (BULSCA)) field teams at these events.
[edit] In New Zealand
[edit] See also
- International Life Saving Federation
- Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships
- Royal Life Saving Society Australia
[edit] Reference
- ^ Surf Life Saving - Stories from Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal [Online], Commonwealth Government of Australia, 2006. Available at http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/surflifesaving/
- David Eaton (1995). Lifesaving: Handbook of The Royal Life Saving Society United Kingdom. RLSS UK. ISBN 0-907082-59-9.
