Australian Lifeguard magazine - Surf Life Saving Australia

editorialWe made it! – the 2 nd lifeguardmagazine is in your hot little hands and, likethe last one, is full of lifeguarding articlesand photos from all around Australia. Themix of light-hearted articles and technicalinformation hit the right spot with readers ofthe last issue so we’ve kept it that way.It was great to get feedback from readers on some of thearticles from the last issues, it seems the two feature articlesstirred up the most feedback. You can read some of the lettersin the feedback section. In this Issue we have three newfeatures, a look at lifeguards in surf sports, we have Deanofrom Waverley Council discussing how the hit TV showBondi Rescue has influenced their lifeguard service, and Itook a drive up the Great Ocean Road in Victoria directedby the new Beachsafe iPhone App meeting a whole heap oflifeguards along the way.On a sad note, Surf Life Saving ambassador StephanieGilmore, guest editor of the last Issue, was the victim of acallous attack at her home over the Christmas period. Stephis doing ok now, but it will take a few months to get back tofull fitness – we wish her all the best and will be cheeringher towards her 5th world championship title next season!Our guest editor for the summer Issue is new SLSA PresidentGraham Ford.Finally, there’s still opportunities for contributors forthe magazine – like Cassie Mond from Victoria who’ll becontributing stories from Victoria – if you fancy yourself as abit of a journo, or are just keen to get something in the mag,give me a buzz at admin@lifeguards.com.au. I hope you enjoythis Issue.Andre SladefeedbackShould we really be celebrating rescueson patrol?I read about it all the time, lifeguards celebrating how manyrescues they did on patrol, but I don’t think it’s anythingto get excited about. Some rescues are unavoidable;over-stretched resources, public who knowingly disobeywarnings and unexpected changes in conditions are a fewof the factors that may contribute there. However, for themost part if you’ve had to rescue someone then I don’tthink you’ve done your job. How did that person get tothe stage of needing rescuing without you intervening?Where was the on-beach education and prevention? Beinga preventative lifeguard is hard work, you should be moretired mentally from preventative lifeguarding than physicallyby actually doing rescues. Rethink your daily successes,zero preventable rescues should be the goal every time. Forhomework, get to know the 4 stages of the drowning chain.Give the public room to MOVe!When you’re setting the flags, who are you really setting theflags for – you or the public? I’ve seen some pretty narrowflag zones lately for no reason, which makes me wonderwhether the lifeguards are just setting them up to make iteasier for them. Remember as a lifeguard you’re there toprovide a safer and more enjoyable beach experience (seemy rant on ‘They’re your customers’ in the last Issue) – wedon’t want to be the ‘fun police’. The public don’t like beingherded into small flag zones any more than you would, soif you have decent safe zone on the beach make your flagsresemble that and give the public room to move. You’ll alsofind it easier to get people swimming in-between themif they aren’t going to be packed in like sardines. And onanother note, if you’re using surf craft buffer flags makesure there’s a decent buffer zone – a couple of metres isn’treally worth putting them up for.We love feedback! Here’s a selection of emails wereceived from readers of our Spring Issue.If you’d like to comment on anything lifeguardingemail: admin@lifeguards.com.auCourtney COuld out swim, out paddle andout smart the guYS(Abridged) We have had a long time female lifeguard CourtneyEllis who just finished up this season to have a child.Courtney started with us in December 1994 and in September2000 she was appointed my 2nd in charge with LeeBurnes (Deputy Beach Coordinator). In 2004 she resigned totake up school teaching and later joined the fire brigade. Avery good lifeguard who could out swim, out paddle and outsmartnearly all the guys. She had all their respect as a verygood lifeguard and certainly no token female. Mark (Ching)McDougal, Manly LifeguardsVictorian girls blazing trails(Abridged) I read with interest your article on femalelifeguards and their history. Here in Victoria, females wereinvolved in the paid lifeguard services from the early 80’s.Personally, I had a wonderful time lifeguarding in thoseearly years. Never was there anything other than an equalopportunity working relationship at any of the beaches Iworked at. Looking back at it, maybe that is amazing. NatalieHood, Victoria (SLSA National Medical Officer)Scholar a highly respected lifeguard(Abridged) Charlene Wellard began as a ProfessionalLifeguard in Townsville in the late 1990’s, from there shebecame Professional Lifeguard Supervisor employed throughLifeguard Services NSW from 2000 (there about). Her storyis of particular interest considering she was the only femaleLifeguard Supervisor, taking responsibility of a large area inthe Port Stephens and surrounding areas. Charlene was a