Purpose
To outline the immediate procedure to mitigate risk when a lifesaving service fails to meet the minimum standards as set in the Lifesaving Service Agreement/Contract.
Policy
In the event that a lifesaving service does not have the minimum number of qualified personnel or equipment to establish a patrol, it is vital that immediate action is taken to:
- Meet minimum standards and establish a patrol;
- Mitigate/manage risk as best able in the interim, in order to protect the bathing public.
Personnel and equipment (including signage) already on-site shall be actively engaged in surveillance, roving patrols, preventative actions and rescues even though minimum standards are not yet met to open a flagged patrol area.
SurfCom shall notify the appropriate Branch Duty Officer/s and local Lifeguard Supervisor/s to assist in coordinating any resources to assist in the short term.
Such assistance may include:
- Additional personnel from neighbouring lifesaving services;
- Support Operations positioned in the area (RWC, Duty Officer);
- Lifesaving Service Support/Club Callout Teams being activated.
The Branch Director of Lifesaving or ALS Lifeguard Manager shall be notified.
Mitigation Strategies
Ideally service shortages as described above should be avoided through thorough planning and counter measures should only be required due to unforeseen circumstances, e.g. illness. Successful mitigation strategies include, but are not limited to:
- Have a patrol roster finalised and communicated to members prior to season commencement
- Have reliable substitution processes in place and communicated to members
- Regularly remind members of those processes in an appropriate manner
- Remind relevant members and patrol teams of upcoming patrol shifts in a timely manner
- Utilise electronic means (e.g. patrol swaps in the Members Area) where possible
- Provide electronic links (e.g. to the Members Area) where ever opportunity presents
- Utilise multiple communication channels, e.g. text messages and various social media where available, appropriate and useful