PSS 7.4 Closure of Patrol (End of Patrol)

Purpose

To outline best-practice procedure for closing a lifesaving service patrol for the day.

Policy

The closure of a lifesaving service patrol at the end of the day requires effective communication to ensure a safe transition from supervised swimming to unsupervised swimming.

Procedure

Disestablishing of a flagged patrol area

1. Refer to Lifesaving Service Agreement and identify whether extended times (above minimum hours) are required due to patronage or conditions.
2. Inform SurfCom of closure or if extending patrol operations, notify Surfcom 30 mins prior.
3. Utilise the public announcer or similar to inform swimmers of closure and recommend they cease swimming for the day.
4. Utilise in-water lifesaving personnel to inform public of closure.
5. Consider a roving patrol to adjacent areas to inform public of closure.
6. Repeat communication of closure and warning of hazards to remaining swimmers if required.
7. Maintain surveillance of water by delegated lifesaving personnel while equipment is packed up for the day.
8. Maintain dedicated rescue equipment on-standby while other equipment is packed up for the day.
9. Prepare after-hour/call out response equipment (rescue-ready).
10. Conduct a final surveillance sweep of surf area before packing up standby equipment and leaving the beach.
11. Notify relevant club/service/branch officers/supervisors of any issues (i.e. Equipment damage, consumable/fuel shortages etc).

If beach/water patronage warrants, and personnel are available, surveillance of the beach area should be maintained by lifesaving personnel (with access to rescue equipment) for at least 30min-1hour after the patrol has closed.

IRB Rescue Ready at Closure of Patrol

It is permissible that at the discretion of the Patrol Captain for an IRB to be removed from the beach, no earlier than 30mins before the minimum closing time, to be washed, refuelled and prepared for after-hours/ call out response under the following conditions:

• That the IRB driver and crew are in radio contact during this process and must be present until the minimum closing time is reached
• That the IRB (with driver and crew) is maintained in a rescue ready position to enable quick response to the beach should it be required until the minimum closing time is reached. e.g. attached to SSV.-