The majority of beachgoers are unaware of the skill, strict protocols and dedication required to serve as a qualified lifeguard. Stewart Seini, NSRI lifeguard operations manager, gives us a look at a typical shift for these heroes.
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A rigorous training programme is required to become an NSRI lifeguard, and while on duty, lifeguards constantly monitor the surf and swimmers to prevent drownings and accidents and to perform rescues when necessary.
While there is no such thing as a typical day in the life of an NSRI lifeguard on duty – anything from shark sightings to jellyfish stings to drownings, capsized kayaks and changing weather conditions can occur on the beach – structured protocols are always followed.
‘The lifeguards arrive at their assigned beach anywhere from 8:00am to 9:30am, depending on the day or requirements for the beach,’ explains Stewart Seini. ‘They then conduct a SMEAC briefing [situation, mission, execution, administration, logistics, command and communications], which covers the necessary pre-duty protocols and team briefing in a structured format.’
The senior lifeguard briefs the lifeguards on their operational duties for the day at the start of the shift.
All objectives, weather conditions, tides, rip currents and hazards are considered. All personal protective equipment (PPE) is checked, roles are assigned, limitations that may restrict operations are specified, emergency plans are reinforced and the chain of command is outlined, followed by a discussion to answer any questions the crew may have.
Following their briefing, they report for duty using a lifeguard reporting app designed by Stewart.
He says, ‘This is the fourth year that we’ve been using the app, which has been upgraded each year when we review the data and identify things that need to be added or changed.’
When active duty begins, one or two lifeguards will begin monitoring the beach while the other lifeguards go through a checklist to ensure that all equipment is operational and stock levels are optimal.
They will then determine the safest swimming area and mark it for bathers with red and yellow lifeguard flags, as well as place signage up and down the beach and equipment on the beach, such as rescue buoys, for the quickest response.
‘Obviously, it’s best practice to prevent incidents before they even occur, so throughout the day lifeguards will ask people to swim between the flags, chat with beach visitors about hazards, warn people about rip currents, move various signs around the beach to identify hazards and discourage swimming or close the beach altogether if conditions are unfavourable or a shark has been sighted,’ says Stewart.
‘Lifeguards on a tower or watch duty scan and monitor the water; they know to look for specific patterns to quickly identify when someone is in trouble,’ says Stewart. ‘After a while, visual fatigue can set in, which could put lives at risk, so this duty is only performed for 30 minutes at a time.’
He explains that the same is true for the majority of the other roles. In the heat, the primary rescuer stands by the flags, ready to run into the water if necessary; however, they can become fatigued, so roles are rotated every 30 minutes to ensure that every member of the team remains highly effective. The senior lifeguard role is the only one that does not change throughout the day because this person is in charge of the team for the day.
Don’t worry if you see NSRI lifeguards looking at their smartphones while on duty; they’re not checking their Instagram accounts; they’re required to record beach statistics on the lifeguard reporting app.
The number of visitors on the beach, the number of people in the water, the number of water sports users, the weather conditions, hazards, rip current locations, ocean conditions, wind speed and wind direction are all recorded every two hours. The person on watch duty is not required to record until they change roles. Lifeguards are obviously likely to be called on to perform rescues or administer first aid in between all of this activity.
‘The lifeguards’ duty ends at about 6pm, but they’ll usually stay on until 7pm or later on public holidays if the beach is very busy or the risks of a drowning or incident remain high,’ explains Stewart.
When you visit a location where NSRI lifesavers are on duty, whether it’s a beach or an inland dam, you can be confident that they’re doing everything humanly possible to keep you, your friends and your family safe while you enjoy the water.
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Picture: National Sea Rescue Institute