26.52.1. When you receive a call to respond

When you receive a call to respond
STOP
THINK
ASSESS

Safety

• Can you attend! Is it safe to leave the area; is the beach to busy with people or rip currents?
• Is there enough staff on duty to cover the bathing area while you’re away?
• Do you have all the correct PPE as many call outs can take several hours?
• If after hours, do you have someone looking after your wellbeing (search and rescue) if you become lost or injured?

Risk Assessment

• Are you familiar with the national park?
• When was the last time you operated the machinery your about to take out there?
• What’s the conditions like, large swell, stormy, rain, visibility, is it day, afternoon or fading light?
• When was the last time you took the RWC out, especially in challenging conditions, do you take a crewmember with you?
• When was the last time you drove the SSV on road or with in the trails?

Information

It’s extremely important that you gather as much information as possible before departing to the incident. The national park still has several radio dead spots, which can be challenging when you’re trying to source information.

Things to consider:

• Where – is the location of incident
• When – did it take place
• How many people involved
• What resources are on the way
• What’s the victim or informants phone number

Don’t forget to use effective communication in return to your fellow guards, surf com or other external agencies as to when:

• Your responding
• What comms your taking, radio and phone (number)
• Will you be taking RWC or the SSV
• How many guards will be responding

It’s imperative to receive as much information as possible and to use clear effective communication in return for the best possible outcome.

Equipment

Are we taking the RWC or SSV

If using RWC

• Is there enough fuel for the job
• Have you your PPE
• PFD, helmet, radio and wet bag located in tower
• First aid, resus, defib, grab bag located in tower
  

If using SSV

• Is there enough fuel for the job
• PPE, eye protection, footwear, seatbelt’s, water, etc
• Is all the rescue equipment ready and on the SSV, rescue board, tube, spinal board, softpack, fins and booties
• Make sure you take a phone as well as a radio so you can communicate if there’s a dead spot
• National park keys are located in the radio cabinet in the Noosa main beach tower
• There is a copy of National park map in the glove box of the Noosa main and west SSV’s
• If communication broken at A-bay use channel 15A

PLEASE REMEMBER SAFETY AND OUR BATHING AREA COMES FIRST AND FOREMOST…