AusLeisure

New Zealand’s 5,200 strong volunteer surf lifeguard force is ready to tackle another summer by raising red and yellow flags at key spots around the country this weekend, marking the official season start of this essential emergency service.

While most beaches don’t raise their flags until November, the traditional beginning of the Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) season is Labour Weekend and surf lifeguards are encouraging people to take their safety advice on board this long weekend, and dial 111 (Police) if you think you can see someone in trouble.

SLSNZ National Lifesaving Manager, Allan Mundy stated “your first option is to swim between the flags at a lifeguarded beach. It is absolutely the safest place for you to swim, so you should always do that if possible.

“However, if the flags aren’t an option and you’re heading out this weekend, make sure you follow our safety advice but call 111 and ask for Police if you do see anyone in trouble. Even though the flags may not be up, surf lifeguards are often already in your community and can respond quickly with help from the Police."

While the flags will start to appear from tomorrow, volunteer surf lifeguards have not stopped since dropping the flags at the end of last summer, clocking up over 100,000 hours of training, upskilling courses and exams over winter and responding to multiple call-out missions. 

Last season, surf lifeguards put in over 230,000 patrol hours on the beach resulting in over 1,062 life-threatening rescues while helping another 2,375 people out of a potentially dangerous situation. 

That means over 3,000 New Zealander’s made it home thanks to surf lifeguards, and this year, they want to make sure everyone makes it home from a day at our beautiful beaches.

Rip currents are the main cause of rescues performed at a beach, and Mundy encourages people to learn how to spot them before getting in the water. Often they appear as regions of deeper, darker water with less wave breaking activity between areas of white water, or a patch of surface water that is rippled or bumpy with criss-crossed waves compared to areas either side of this section of water. 

Mundy advised “remember, if you’re unsure that what you’re looking at is a rip, don’t get in the water. If in doubt, stay out,”

This time of year also marks the start of SLSNZ’s Beach Education programmes, which last year educated over 30,000 Kiwi kids on how to stay safe at the beach. 

Mundy added “education is the key to prevention, If we can teach our children how to keep safe and also what to do if they do get in trouble, that will undoubtedly help reduce the coastal drowning toll over the years to come, so it’s incredibly important work for us.” 

SLSNZ Chief Executive Paul Dalton echoes  Mundy’s advice, concluding “we are incredibly fortunate to live in a country where our beaches are our best playground, but please ensure you get home safely by following our safety tips and listening to the advice of surf lifeguards.

 “SLSNZ is also proud of all the surf lifeguards who give up hundreds of hours of their own time over the year to keep the public safe, and we want to thank them for that."

 SLSNZ Beach Safety Messages:

1. Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the flags

2. Read and understand the safety signs - ask a lifeguard for advice as conditions can change regularly  

3. Don't overestimate your ability or your children's ability to cope in the conditions

4. Always keep a very close eye on young children in or near the water - keep them within arm’s reach at all times

5. Get a friend to swim with you - never swim or surf alone

6. Watch out for rip currents, they can carry you away from shore. If caught in a rip current, lie on your back and FLOAT, put your hand up and call for help

7. Be smart around rocks: When fishing, never turn your back towards the sea and always wear a lifejacket

8. If in doubt, stay out!

9. If you see someone in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police

10. Be sun smart - Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap. Protect your skin and eyes from the sun's damaging rays.

Images courtesy of SLSNZ.

Related Articles

5th October 2018 - New Zealanders continue to underestimate water risks

23rd June 2018 - Research shows penetration of WSNZ’s Swim Reaper water safety campaign

13th December 2017 - New Zealand water safety sector sounds alarm bells ahead of holiday period

8th September 2017 - Concern over declining swimming skills among New Zealand children

5th September 2017 - Surf Life Saving New Zealand names 2017 Awards of Excellence finalists

5th January 2017 - Surf Life Saving New Zealand welcomes zero drownings at patrolled beaches

6th December 2016 - Surf Life Saving New Zealand begins summer fundraising

25th November 2016 - SLSNZ and Emsisoft team up for ultimate surf protection

10th November 2016 - TSB Bank and Surf Life Saving New Zealand announce new major partnership

18th October 2016 - Surf Life Saving New Zealand aim for zero drownings through summer

27th September 2016 - Surf Life Saving New Zealand honours lifeguards for off-duty rescue

23rd March 2012 - New Chief Executive for Surf Life Saving New Zealand

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.