In preparing for an upcoming patrol season, all Club Management Team (CMT) members must complete a number of tasks to ensure the SLSC is ready to provide its community service. For example, the SLSC Director of Lifesaving (DoL) must update the SLSC’s Patrol Operations Manual (POM).
Pre-season Briefing
The SLSC Director of Lifesaving (DoL) should deliver a pre-season briefing with all Patrol Captains, Gear Stewards and Chief Training Officers (CTOs).
Items to discuss should include:
- Club’s ability to meet compliance requirements
- Active patrolling member numbers and qualification requirements
- Annual gear and equipment inspection program
- SLSC radio procedures
- Emergency response equipment and call out teams
- Lifesaving Service Agreement (LSA)
- Local government regulations
- Patrol audit program
- Patrol Captain skills maintenance requirements and supplementary learning
- Patrol Operations Manual (POM)
- Patrol rosters
- Powercraft safety and image
- Public image and uniform
- SLSA and SLSNSW circulars and news and events relating to lifesaving operations
- SLSNSW Public Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and any updates
- Special event management
- Rescue Services (formerly Support Operations)
- Surf sport and junior development program activities
- The SLSC hazards and risk register—registered items relating to lifesaving operations, gear and equipment.
- Training activities on patrol
Patrol Rosters
Patrol rosters should be promoted to SLSC members as far in advance as possible. Please refer to the SLNSW Public Safety SOPs for patrol proficiency and personnel requirements. When preparing the patrol roster, it is necessary to consider the experience and qualifications of the members and their external commitments. Many SLSCs will produce two or more patrol rosters per season to allow for greater human resources management.
Some SLSCs have found improved patrol attendance and member retention by allowing their members to allocate themselves to patrol dates requiring certain qualified members instead of being assigned to patrol teams and specified dates. This self-allocation is possible when there is more than the minimum required proficient members on each patrol, such as the Patrol Captain and IRB crew.
Note:
- Your SLSC’s LSA shall form the basis of annual patrol roster planning.
- The SLSC DoL should regularly review patrol attendance to determine if patrol standards are met and if there are any changes to the patrol roster that need to be made during the patrol season.