Purpose
To outline water safety flag requirements for lifesaving services.
Policy
Red and Yellow Patrol Flag and Feather (augmentation)
Lifesaving Services shall utilise the red and yellow patrol flag with the red and yellow feather (‘Beach Flag Augmentation’) as its standard for indicating the patrolled swimming zone at beaches.
The ‘feather’ also enhances public identification of the patrolled area from in the water – so that the public can better ensure they continue swimming ‘between the flags’.
Black and White Quartered Flag and Feather (surfcraft boundary)
Lifesaving Services shall utilise the black and white quartered flag (with optional feather) to indicate surfcraft exclusion zones where SLS services have delegated authority. Implementation of black/white ‘feathers’ shall require SLSNSW approval.
Display of Surfcraft Signage with Black and White Flags
SLS also endorses the use of surfcraft directional or probation signs to be used in conjunction with surfcraft boundary flags. This may be through the placement of signs on the ‘flagpole’ or ‘pole base’. The most common example of this would be the use of a directional ‘surfcraft’ information sign on the flagpole (figure 4). The use of the surfcraft prohibition sign (figure 5) should only be used where the service has delegated authority and supporting legislation to prohibit the activity.
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| Figure 4 – Surfcraft Directional Signage (as shown in A/NZS 2416:2010.2) | Figure 5 – Surfcraft Prohibition Signage (as shown in A/NZS 2416:2010.2) |
Table 1 – Flags approved for use by Lifesaving Services in NSW
| 1 |  |
Patrol Flag | Pair of flags to signify a swimming and bodyboarding zone which has a patrol on-duty. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  |
Patrol Flag – Feather | Additional ‘feather’ flown only with rectangular patrol flag. |
| 3 |  |
Surfcraft Boundary Flag | Pair of flags used to demarcate a surfboard and other water craft zone or boundary. To signify a zone, or the boundary of a zone, designated for use of surfboards and other water craft. |
| 4 |  |
Surfcraft Boundary Flag – Feather | Additional ‘feather’ flown only with rectangular surfcraft boundary flag. |
| 5 |  |
Clubhouse Patrol Flag | Single flag flown from clubhouse/tower to signify an active on-duty service. Shall only fly if patrolled area is open. |
| 6 |  |
Signal Flag | Pair of flags used by lifesaving services to signal other lifesavers. |
| 7 |  |
Emergency Evacuation Flag | Emergency evacuation. To signify that people should leave the water because of an emergency. |