Now that you have read through the 35th edition Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue training manual, you should be able to complete all the eLearning components of your course. To access your eLearning log into the SLS Members Area and select the eLearning tab.
You should also test your knowledge with the following reflection questions, if you find yourself answering ‘no’ or ‘not sure’ to any of them, you may wish to go back and review the relevant content or speak with your trainer for clarification.
Introduction to Surf Life Saving Australia
- Are you familiar with the different ways in which Surf Life Saving works to reduce drowning?
- Do you know how your SLS club fits into the national organisation and how decisions are made in your SLS club and state centre?
- Are you aware of the different award pathways and training opportunities available to you?
- Do you know who is available to support you in your role at your SLS club?
Safety and wellbeing
- Do you know what your responsibilities are in relation to work health and safety?
- Are you aware of the physical and psychological hazards which you may encounter in your role in Surf Life Saving?
- Would you know what to do if you had a safety concern or sustained an injury while volunteering?
- Do you know the signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and would you know what to do if you observed these in yourself or others?
- Are you aware of Surf Life Saving’s Member Protection Policy and the information it contains?
Radio operations
- Do you understand how radios work, including the purpose of channels, repeaters and networks?
- Are you confident in your knowledge of Surf Life Saving’s prowords?
- Are you confident in your ability to use call prowords, call signs and the 4 Ps to communicate over the radio?
- Would you know what to do if your radio is dropped into water, or shows signs of physical damage?
Surf awareness
- Do you understand how the characteristics of each beach interact, determining how hazardous they are at any point in time (e.g., swell, waves, wind, rips, tide, underwater topography)?
- Are you aware of the common features of rip currents and how to escape one if you are caught in it?
- Do you know what considerations should be taken before entering the surf?
- Are you confident in your use of techniques to negotiate the surf (e.g., wading, dolphin diving, bodysurfing)?
Rescue
- Are you aware of the range of scanning techniques?
- Could you recognise the difference between a distressed victim and a drowning victim?
- Are you confident in your knowledge of Surf Life Saving’s water safety signals?
- Do you know what considerations should be made before performing a rescue?
- Do you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different rescue techniques using rescue tubes and boards as well as unaided rescues?
- Are you confident in your ability to correctly use rescue tubes and rescue boards?
- Do you understand the different carries/drags that can be used to move a victim to a safe location?
Resuscitation
- Do you know what the ‘Chain of Survival’ is?
- Are you confident in your understanding of DRSABCD?
- Are you aware of the legal considerations related to the provision of emergency care (duty of care, consent, recording and confidentiality)?
- Do you know how to ensure that CPR effective?
- Are you confident in effectively performing CPR individually and as part of a patrol team?
- Are you aware of the safety precautions that should be considered when using an AED?
Emergency care
- Are you confident in your ability to recognise the signs and symptoms of a range of first aid emergencies?
- Are you confident in your ability to treat a range of first aid emergencies?
- Do you know what first aid equipment is available for your use in your club’s first aid kit and what the different pieces of equipment are used for?
- Are you confident in your ability to perform and record the results of a verbal and visual secondary assessment?
- Would you know what treatments to prioritise and when to call an ambulance or refer to a medical practitioner?
Communication
- Are you aware of your role in presenting a positive public image of Surf Life Saving and how you can do this?
- Do you know how to communicate effectively, thinking about what you say, how you say it and how you look when you say it?
- Are you aware of Surf Life Saving’s Social Media Policy and the information it contains?
- Do you know how to disagree in a respectful manner and how to provide compassionate and constructive feedback?
Spinal management
- Are you confident in your understanding of how to respond to and manage a walk-up victim with a suspected spinal injury?
- Are you confident in your understanding of how to perform an extended-arm roll and a vice grip roll-over, and the conditions under which each should be used?
- Are you confident in your understanding of how to work as a team to perform a log roll and a spinal board carry?
- Are you confident in your understanding of how to immobilise a victim’s head?
Patrol operations
- Are you aware of the range of patrol methods?
- Are you aware of Surf Life Saving’s standard operating procedures (SOPs)?
- Are you familiar with the range of preventative actions that you can take as a lifesaver, and of the importance of prevention vs. rescue?
- Do you know how you can assist with launching an IRB?
- Are you confident that you know how you can assist in patrol set-up and pack-down?