28.46. LGS NSI 046 Roving Lifeguard Procedures

Introduction

During school holidays there is to be Eight (8) lifeguards on North Stradbroke Island. One (1) of these lifeguards is a roving lifeguard based out of Adder Rock. The rove lifeguard is there to provide extra operational support throughout the school holidays.

Policy

It is the roving lifeguard’s job to provide extra operational support for the current lifeguard service. This lifeguard is to either rove in the lifeguard truck or the Jet Ski throughout the day roving between Flinders beach and Main beach. If conditions require the rove lifeguard to maintain at one specific area this can be done.

Procedures

Jet Ski Rove Patrol

1. The lifeguard is to arrive at Adder rock at 9:45am (8:45am Easter and September/ October Holidays). Adder Rock Lifeguard and Rove Lifeguard to work in together for Lifeguard duties.
2. Lifeguard is to check Daily Diary on arrival to the beach, to see if there were any issues in the previous days rove.
3. Lifeguard is to set up all equipment required for their patrol i.e. radio, life jacket, water bottle
4. Lifeguard is to launch the Jet Ski
5. Lifeguard is to sign on with surf com via Radio. When the jet ski is roving, they are to radio the closest beach with current location and direction of travel and any other useful information.
6. The lifeguard is to travel whatever distance they feel is needed. They can travel as far as Flinders Campgrounds to as far to George Nothling Drive on Main Beach.
7. The Rove is Conditions depending, suggested dangerous marine life sightings or high populations.
8. The general rove is from Adder Rock to the First Camping Ground down Flinders Beach, back to Adder Rock, along Home Beach to Cylinder Beach, Cylinder Beach to Deadman’s Beach and to the Widows corner of Deadman’s Beach. If there is hazardous surf and low beach populations, there is no need to rove to Frenchman’s Beach and Main Beach.
   If conditions are favorable, the rove is to continue through Frenchman’s Beach to South Gorge and on to Main Beach. During this stretch of the rove it is important to scan the rocky headlands for any fisherman and other public at risk from being hit by waves.
9. After a period of time the lifeguard can return to Adder Rock following the same procedures as earlier in reverse
10. This can be done once during the morning before lunch and once in the afternoon after lunch.
11. If lifeguards feel the need to continually rove a certain area this should be done. Ensuring lunch breaks are still taken.
12. The roving lifeguard needs to return to Adder Rock at 1515 to allow time for refueling and to take over from the lifeguard who will be leaving at 1600.
    

Lifeguard Truck Rove
The lifeguard truck is only to be used for roving patrols down to Amity Point or if surf conditions do not allow a jet ski on the water.

1. The lifeguard is to follow steps 1-4 of the previous procedures.
2. The lifeguard is to decide if it is necessary to do a truck roving patrol.
3. The lifeguard is to travel west along Flinders Beach towards Amity Point. The lifeguard is to maintain beach speed limits.
4. Lifeguard is to deal with any problems and return to Adder Rock. The lifeguard should inform the members of the public about the flagged areas.