BECOMING A GREAT LIFEGUARD or PATROL SUPPORT MEMBER
This structured programme will prepare candidates to qualify as a Surf Lifeguard or as a Patrol Support member.
Lifeguard Trainees will have achieved confidence in all areas of lifesaving, including first aid, board skill, club care, patrolling and more.
Patrol Support Trainees will have achieved confidence in most areas of lifesaving, including first aid, club care, patrolling and more.
About Trainees
The course consists of an hour long morning physical training session (called PT!) for Lifeguard Trainees, then both Lifeguard and Patrol Support Trainees then meet back up at the club for a theory session, followed by a practical session on beach skills and/or First Aid skills. During these sessions, Surf Lifeguards and Surf Instructors will train the candidates in all areas of Lifeguarding, including:
- Demonstrate knowledge of health and safety issues relevant to Surf Life Saving members
- Describe the features of the surf environment
- Identify and describe the roles and responsibilities of a Surf Lifeguard & Patrol Support Member
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective communication
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective scanning techniques and victim identification
- Perform retrieval of underwater objects – Lifeguard Trainees Only
- Perform releases and tows in an aquatic environment – Lifeguard Trainees Only
- Demonstrate Surf Life Saving signal communication and demonstrate knowledge of graphic communication
- Communicate using a two-way radio
- Perform a tube rescue – Lifeguard Trainees Only
- Provide resuscitation (no unit standards)
- Provide first aid (no unit standards)
Timings
- first day is 28 December 2018, the last is the 18th of January 2019
- With the trainee exam on the 19th of January
- sessions are daily, Monday to Saturday
- before every activity, we meet outside the club, beach side
Expectations
- Lifeguard Candidates must have swimming competency, to the point where they are comfortable completing 400m in around 9 minutes. This is the most important skill set coming into this course for these candidates.
- Patrol Support Candidates do not complete the physical components, instead they take part in all other areas of the training including, First Aid, CPR, Radio and Signal Communication, Beach awareness as well as rip identification.
Registration
- If you have been a member – you should get a re-registration pack through the post
- If you are a new member – see us at the clubrooms on Registration Day (27 December 2018), or visit the bar when open ASAP
Checklist for a Trainee Lifeguard
What to purchase before the session:
- Whiritoa Togs (Recommended, our uniform!)
- Wetsuit (optional, but needed as a lifeguard long term)
- Polarised Sunglasses (optional, but needed as a lifeguard long term)
- Surf fins (compulsory, must be a solid piece of rubber with a strap at the back, like this www.dorsalfins.com/products/dorsal-bodyboard-boogie-swim-fins-churchill-style-red-black?variant=17021523777)
What to have with you at the beach:
- Towel
- Wet gear on
- Drink bottle with water
- Sunscreen (pre-applied, there is usually a large bottle at the club)
- Plenty of energy
Checklist for a Trainee Patrol Support Member
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Polarised Sunglasses (optional, but needed as a Patrol Support Member long term)
- Drink bottle with water
- Sunscreen (pre-applied, there is usually a large bottle at the club)
- Plenty of energy
Wet weather and cancellations
We almost never cancel a session; we’re always there, rain, hail or shine. But if there is just no choice, we will work inside the clubrooms on theory.
Official SLSC info:
http://www.surflifesaving.org.nz/lifeguarding/lifeguarding-education/patrol-support/
This course is the first step to becoming a Patrol Support Member or Lifeguard and is open to all ages.
For any questions about any of the Junior Surf Programmes, contact Maiya Bonney via email whiritoa.sls.juniorsurf@gmail.com
Or talk to one of the trainee instructors for this season, Natalie Mitchell or Maiya Bonney.
