Where a lifesaving or lifeguarding service is provided, team members on duty have a certain level of responsibility to beachgoers. While lifesavers and lifeguards do not have an automatic duty to rescue someone, there are some guiding principles that need to be taken into consideration at the time of any incident(s).
- Are you putting yourself in unnecessary danger?
- Do you have the skills to perform the rescue?
- Do you have the equipment you need?
- Is the person(s) asking for help?
- Is it foreseeable that the person(s) will need help?
- Is it reasonable to render assistance?
If you are off duty, you have no legal duty of care to stop and render assistance to any person requiring assistance. If you do, the ‘Good Samaritan’ laws in your state should offer some protection. Nearly all Australian states and territories have in place Good Samaritan legislation to ensure that people who step forward to provide emergency medical assistance are not held legally liable for their actions provided they act in good faith.
Whether you are on or off duty, you should take care to do only what is within the limits of your ability and training.