Sign me up and on patrol

Lesson 8 – 30 minutes

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate the following signals: message understood; attract attention; message not clear; repeat; pick up swimmers.
• Identify the role of a beach patrol.
• Identify the role of lifesavers during a patrol.

Preparation

• Orange and blue communication flags (optional).
• Water Safety Personnel (1:5).
• Organise this lesson to occur when a patrol is setting up.

Discuss

• Start the lesson by recalling and having the participants demonstrate the following signals: Return to shore – one arm held vertically above the head.
• Proceed further out to sea – two hands held vertically above head.
• Go to the left – one arm held out parallel to the ground.
• Go to the right – one arm held out parallel to the ground.
• Remain stationary – two arms held at arm’s length, parallel to the ground.
  

Activity 1

Play a quick game of ‘you want me where?’ – non-elimination.
Game instructions: You want me where?

1. Participants stand facing you.
2. You give a signal and the participants then follow the instructions of the signal:
   1. Return to shore – Move towards you.
   2. Proceed further out to sea – Move away from you.
   3. Go to the left – Move to their left.
   4. Go to the right – Move to their right.
   5. Remain stationary – stop and stand still

Activity 2

Demonstrate and explain the following signals and ask the participants to demonstrate them back to you:

1. Message understood – one arm held stationary above the head and cut away quickly.
2. Attract Attention – wave both arms to and for crossing above the head Message not clear – wave one arm to and for above head.
3. Pick up swimmers – point in direction of swimmer the other hand to be waved in a circular manner around the head.
   

Activity 3

1. Ask the participants to pair up and carry out the following activity under the watch of water safety personnel. Remind the participants that the signaler and receiver both need to use message understood when necessary.
2. Have one partner to stand at waters edge (who will be the receiver) and one partner (the signaler) to stand facing their partner 10m up the beach.
3. Ask the signaler to instruct the receiver using the following signals:
   1. Attract attention of partner.
   2. Send partner out into knee deep water.
   3. Ask the receiver to reply.
   4. The message is not clear.
   5. Ask the signaler to send partner out into knee deep water.
   6. (When receivers are in knee deep water) Send partner to the left.
   7. Send partner further out to sea.
   8. (When receivers are in knee deep water) Send partner to the right. Partner to return to shore.
   9. Once the first partner has completed the exercise have them swap positions.

*AGE MANAGER TIPS

Pass around a set of communication flags during the exercise so participants get an opportunity to experience them.

ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE

• This lesson assumes participants have acquired previous knowledge from earlier awards: Signals.
  

Activity 4

1. Ensure a patrol is operating on your beach and approach the patrol captain to discuss patrols with your participants (if a patrol does not operate during junior activities, find another patrolling member to lead this lesson).
2. Introduce the group to the patrol captain and ask them to explain the role of a patrol:
   1. When do patrols occur?
   2. What happens before the patrol begins?
   3. What equipment is used on a patrol and why?
   4. Show the participants this equipment .
   5. What types of things happen on a patrol?
   6. What are the most fun parts of being on patrol?
      Have the participants ask the patrol captain any questions they may have.

*AGE MANAGER TIPS

If it’s a quiet day on patrol you might be able to split the participants up and allocate them to a lifesaver each to deliver this lesson.