Your responsibilities as a patrol team member
- Actively patrol the water’s edge. It is advisable to have a piece of rescue equipment nearby or on you in case of emergencies.
- Avoid undertaking too many duties on the one day, to avoid fatigue and reduced effectiveness.
- Ensure you are in a position, both physically and psychologically, to undertake the duties expected of you during the patrol, having regard to the IM SAFE principles.
- Follow patrol captain instructions within your limitations and training.
- Inform your patrol captain if you are unable or unwilling to perform a task.
- Know your patrol area.
- Place (and maintain) flags and equipment as close as possible to the water’s edge that can move with tidal changes.
- Promote safety first.
- Remain vigilant in your surveillance of the patrol area and its surrounds.
- Report to the patrol captain on any:
- potential hazards for beachgoers that are identified
- significant changes in swimmer activities or behaviour
- significant changes in the surf or beach conditions
- other activities taking place on the beach that may constitute a risk to the safety and wellbeing of members of your team and/or beachgoers.
- You must not leave the patrol area unless authorised to do so by your patrol captain.
Responsibilities of the patrol captain
- Be in charge of all operations.
- Brief team members at the start and end of patrol duty.
- Collate reports of equipment faults reported by team members.
- Ensure that all relevant information is recorded in the appropriate logs.
- Monitor weather forecasts and beach conditions.
- Organise the rotation of patrol member responsibilities.
- Place rescue equipment ready to access in and around the flagged area.
- Provide direction to patrol team members when needed.
- Respond appropriately to reports from patrol members.
- Support member development.
