F.L.A.G.S.

Lesson 5 – 20 minutes

Learning outcomes

• Identify the (five) 5 beach safety tips using the F.L.A.G.S. acronym
• Identify different safety signs on their beach and their meaning
• Understand the three different sign shapes and colours

Preparation

• Whiteboard and markers (optional).
• Butchers paper and pens (optional).
• Worksheet:
  • Signs of the times
  • Pens/pencils
• Before the lesson, identify the safety signage on your beach and/or the safety signs used on patrol.

Discuss

• Introduce each of the five surf safety tips.
• Ask the participants what each surf safety tip means, and discuss each in more detail.

Activity 1

• Take the participants on a beach walk and point out the five F.L.A.G.S tips along the way.

Activity 2

• Complete the F.L.A.G.S worksheet.

Activity 3

• Ask the participants to point out the local safety signage at your beach.
• Take the participants on a tour of the safety signage they have pointed out (and any others you know of) and discuss with them what they mean.

Discuss

• Explain to the participants why we use signs (we couldn’t write safety messages everywhere in different styles or there would be confusion).
• Discuss the three types of signs.
• Signs are designed the same way so people such as international visitors who speak different languages, holidaymakers, or people unfamiliar with the local beaches can all understand what they mean.

Activity 4

• Ask the participants to complete the ‘Signs of the Times’ worksheet.
  NOTE: complete this talk / lesson with the patrol team on duty.