Purpose
To outline the SLSNSW requirements for staging nipper activities (including training). Training means authorised nipper training conducted in accordance with the SLSA Water Safety Policy.
Policy
All clubs shall adhere to the requirements stipulated in this document and additional policies/procedures regarding Nipper activities.
Procedure
General Nipper Programs and Activities
Nippers programs (and like activities) shall adhere to the SLSA Water Safety Policy at all times. Where possible, Nipper activities shall be delivered during the scheduled patrol season and during the hours of a scheduled club patrol. To facilitate any in-water Nippers activities, all minimum patrol personnel requirements must be present where a rostered patrol is not in operation. Should the patrolled area be closed due to dangerous conditions, or for other reasons, no in-water Nipper activities shall take place at this location.
It is recognized that some beaches do not have exclusive control over the status of their flagged area, it is noted that a specific risk assessment can be undertaken to determine if Nipper events can be suitable.
Patrol Members Assisting Nipper Activities
On-duty lifesaving personnel may be tasked to assist with Nipper water safety only if doing so does not reduce patrol capacity below minimum patrol standards. Should a Nippers program lack sufficient water safety personnel to meet the requirements of the Water Safety Policy, and associated patrol lack additional personnel to assist and still meet minimum patrol standards, then in-water Nipper activities should not proceed.
Chain of Command
The Patrol Captain shall have internal SLS ‘control’ of all lifesaving activities on the beach including ‘Nippers’. The Nipper Coordinator (person in charge of Nippers on the day) shall have delegated ‘command’ of their water safety delivery requirements – as per the SLSA Water Safety Policy. The Nipper Coordinator and the Patrol Captain should conduct a risk assessment and agree for nipper activities to take place, however the command role is undertaken by the Patrol Captain as necessary and this means that the Patrol Captain has final authority on whether nipper activities can proceed or not.
Communication
An ongoing line of communication should be maintained between the Patrol Captain and Nipper Coordinator, including a pre-activity briefing. The nipper area shall be in contact with the patrol via radio at all times. Where Nipper activities are being facilitated outside of general patrolling hours, SurfCom shall be notified via radio or the Operations App with communication maintained via radio at all times.
Moving Nippers to an Alternate Location
Where possible, nippers should be delivered during the scheduled patrol season, and during the hours of a scheduled club patrol.
To safely move nippers the Junior Activity Chair and Water Safety Supervisor (in conjunction with the patrol captain) must contact SurfCom to advise of the new location prior to any activities taking place. The patrol captain can also log this via the Patrol Ops App.
To facilitate any in-water nipper activities in a new location the following equipment must be available (as the minimum standard): rescue tube/s and/or rescue board/s, radio, oxygen and defibrillation equipment, first aid kits. Based on water conditions an operational IRB (and qualified driver and crew) may also be required. A risk assessment must be completed at the new location and water safety ratios must be met.
Should a patrolled area be closed due to dangerous conditions, or for other reasons, no in-water nipper activities can take place at this location. Clubs may choose to temporarily move nippers to an alternative location if the conditions are deemed unsuitable at the main location after a risk assessment is conducted. To safely move your nippers the patrol captain must be contacted and advised of the new location prior to any activities taking place.
When a club moves location for their nippers, safety is still the priority. A change to the nipper location must be noted in the patrol log, a risk assessment must be completed at the new location and water safety ratios must be met. Based on this risk assessment and to facilitate in-water nipper activities, minimum water safety requirements must be present where a rostered patrol is not in operation. Equipment required may include rescue tubes, rescue boards, IRB, radios, oxygen and defibrillation equipment, and first aid kit. The Patrol Operations Manual will need to be updated if an alternate nipper location is permanently utilised.
Non-Club Based Nipper (or similar) Groups/Programs
Non-club-based Nipper programs shall hold a club/branch/state endorsed safety plan (endorsed annually) and consistently meet the requirements of the SLSA Water Safety Policy.
Rescue Equipment
- Rescue equipment used for the purposes of water safety must be SLSA approved and can include:
- ALL equipment listed on the SLSA approved lifesaving gear and equipment list.
- SLSA approved racing boards.
- It is highly recommended that an IRB or RWC be used for water safety (where safe and applicable).
- If an IRB is used for water safety, the IRB accounts for 2 members of the water safety supervision ratio (IRB driver and crew).
- If an RWC is used for water safety, the RWC accounts for 1 member of the water safety supervision ratio, OR 2 members if an RWC crew is also in attendance.
- During the activity rescue equipment must be readily available and operational. The IRB and/or RWC should be on the water rather than stationary on the beach.
- If the patrol IRB is used (at the direction of the Patrol Captain) then it should be in radio contact with the patrol at all times. If an IRB that is not the patrol IRB is used, it should also be in radio contact.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) Kit, which is recommended to include:
- Polystyrene Float with Anchor, Chain 2m and Rope approx. 15m
- Fins
- Goggles
- Mask and Snorkel
- Rash Shirts/Hi Vis Vests (numbered)
- Dye Packs
- Knife
- Whistle
- Sign Out Sheets
- Air horn
- 10 x high visibility yellow caps
- 4 x grid maps of area being used
- 1 x anchor kit and marker buoy
- Signal flag or beach marker to mark last known point on land
Reference
SLSA Water Safety Policy
SLSA Operations App (to complete Risk Assessment)
Junior Activity Search and Rescue Procedure