Flexible Patrolling SOP's

Flexible Patrolling Options Decision Tree

Full Patrol

A full patrol must meet all minimum personnel and award requirements to be categorised as a full patrol.

A full patrol shall consist of 3 or more financial and proficient surf lifesavers who hold the following surf lifesaving patrol awards:

• • 3 x Bronze (PSAR Cert II) Medallion qualified members *
• • Silver Medallion Beach Management or Silver Medallion Patrol Captain*
• • 1 x Silver Medallion IRB Driver *
• • 1 x IRB Crew (separate to the holder of the IRB Driver award) *
• • 1 x Advanced Resuscitation Techniques *
• • Side by Side Vehicle Operation (if applicable to the club)

*The above qualifications may be held collectively by Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) holders as long as the same person does not hold both IRB Driver and IRB Crew positions. Where required, the Patrol Captain may be the award holder of any/all the above minimum requirements.

Full patrols must operate based on the following criteria:

• • During an NSW School Holiday period, unless an exemption is approved by the Branch Director of Lifesaving & State Director of Lifesaving.
• • NSW Gazetted Public Holidays during the term of the Lifesaving Service Agreement.
• • On days with a forecast maximum temperature of 28 degrees or more during the term of the Lifesaving Service Agreement. The forecast maximum temperature should be taken from the Bureau of Meteorology website for that specific town/location or the nearest coastal town/location to where the patrol will take place.
• • When there is a planned major event expected within the local community that will attract large crowds to that location or stretch of coastline. A major event can be classified as an event that significantly increases the likelihood of an injury or drowning occurring at that patrolled location.
• • Unless inclement weather provisions may apply (see Inclement Weather / Surveillance Patrol).

Partial Patrol

A Partial Patrol must meet all minimum personnel and award requirements as outlined below to be categorised as a Partial Patrol.

A Partial Patrol shall consist of proficient surf lifesavers who hold the following surf lifesaving patrol awards:

• • 2 x Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) qualified members (older than 17 years of age) and 1 x Surf Rescue qualified member or an additional Bronze (PSAR Cert II) qualified member or
• • 1 x Gold Medallion (PSAR Cert III) qualified member and 1 x Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) qualified member
• • Silver Medallion Beach Management or Silver Medallion Patrol Captain*
• • Advanced Resuscitation Techniques*
• • Side by Side Vehicle Operation (if applicable to the club)

*The above qualifications may be held collectively by the 2 x proficient Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) holders or 1 x Gold Medallion (PSAR Cert III) holder. Where required, the Patrol Captain may be the award holder of any/all the above minimum requirements.

Partial Patrols may take place in accordance with the following criteria:

• • It is not during an NSW School Holiday period, unless an exemption is approved by the Branch Director of Lifesaving & State Director of Lifesaving.
• • NSW Gazetted Public Holidays during the term of the Lifesaving Service Agreement.
• • On days with a forecast maximum temperature of below 28 degrees. The forecast maximum temperature should be taken from the Bureau of Meteorology website for that specific town/location or the nearest coastal town/location to where the patrol will take place.
• • There are no planned major event expected within the local community that will attract large crowds to that location or stretch of coastline. A major event can be classified as an event that significantly increases the likelihood of an injury or drowning occurring at that patrolled location.
• • The club Emergency Call-Out Team (ECOT) are alerted, particularly those members on the ECOT who hold IRB qualifications, should an IRB be required to respond to an emergency incident during the outlined lifesaving service agreement hours.

If a club intends to move to a Partial Patrol on the day of a patrol the Patrol Captain must notify the State Operations Centre (SURFCOM) via radio. The State Operations Centre must ensure the Branch Duty Officer is aware of this decision.

If the Branch Duty Officer attends the beach and determines that a Partial Patrol is not appropriate due to the associated risk at that location, then they will consult with the Patrol Captain and arrange for an IRB to be available or a Rescue Water Craft (RWC) asset to attend the location.

If there is a dispute between the Patrol Captain and Branch Duty Officer, the Branch Director of Lifesaving (and if they are not contactable, the State Duty Officer) will have the final say as to the type of patrol type that should be on patrol based on the information provided by the Patrol Captain and Branch Duty Officer.

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Low Patronage Patrol

A Low Patronage Patrol must meet all minimum personnel and award requirements as outlined below to be categorised as a Low Patronage Patrol.

A Low Patronage Patrol shall consist of at least 2 or more financial and proficient surf lifesavers who hold the following surf lifesaving patrol awards:

• • 2 x Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) qualified members (older than 17 years of age)
• • Silver Medallion Beach Management or Silver Medallion Patrol Captain*
• • Advanced Resuscitation Techniques*
• • Side by Side Vehicle Operation (if applicable to the club)

*The above qualifications may be held collectively by the one (1) proficient Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) holder.

A decision to adopt a Low Patronage Patrol sits with the Patrol Captain once conditions and beach attendance have been assessed. Patrol Captains must utilise the following criteria:

• • It is not during an NSW School Holiday period, unless an exemption is approved by the Branch Director of Lifesaving & State Director of Lifesaving.
• • NSW Gazetted Public Holidays during the term of the Lifesaving Service Agreement.
• • On days with a forecast maximum temperature of below 28 degrees. The forecast maximum temperature should be taken from the Bureau of Meteorology website for that specific town/location or the nearest coastal town/location to where the patrol will take place.
• • Beach attendance has been recorded as less than 25 people (e.g. for a period of 2 hours or more) within the primary patrolling area.
• • There are no planned major event expected within the local community that will attract large crowds to that location or stretch of coastline. A major event can be classified as an event that significantly increases the likelihood of an injury or drowning occurring at that patrolled location.
• • The 2 x Bronze qualified members are confident and capable of carrying out a rescue using a rescue board or rescue tube.
• • The club Emergency Call-Out Team (ECOT) are alerted, particularly those members on the ECOT who hold IRB qualifications, should an IRB be required to respond to an emergency incident during the outlined lifesaving service agreement hours. If a club intends to move to a Low Patronage Patrol the Patrol Captain must notify the State Operations Centre (SURFCOM) via radio. The State Operations Centre must ensure the Branch Director of Lifesaving (or their delegate) is aware of this intention and seek a decision.

The decision to approve a Low Patronage Patrol is obtained through the Branch Director of Lifesaving (or their delegate). The Branch Director of Lifesaving (or their delegate) must utilise the following criteria:

• • Awareness of the Patrol Captains criteria as outlined above.
• • The club Emergency Call-Out Team (ECOT) have been alerted, particularly those members on the ECOT who hold IRB qualifications, should an IRB be required to respond to an emergency incident during the outlined lifesaving service agreement hours.
• • The awareness of Rescue Services capabilities available within the area (Lifeguards, Duty Officers, Rescue Water Craft, Westpac Rescue Helicopter etc), including resources that can respond to an emergency incident during the patrol hours.

If there is a dispute between the Patrol Captain and Branch Director of Lifesaving, the decision of the Branch Director of Lifesaving (or their delegate) will be final.

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Surveillance / Inclement Weather Patrol

A Surveillance or Inclement Weather Patrol must meet all minimum personnel and award requirements as outlined below to be categorised as a surveillance patrol.

Inclement weather is defined as the existence of excessive rain or abnormal climatic conditions (such as hail, snow, cold, high wind, severe dust storm, or any combination of these conditions) where it not reasonable to expect members to deliver a full patrol in those conditions.

A Surveillance or Inclement Weather Patrol shall consist of at least 2 or more financial and proficient surf lifesavers who hold the following surf lifesaving patrol awards:

• • 2 x Bronze Medallion (PSAR Cert II) qualified members (older than 17 years of age)
• • Side by Side Vehicle Operation (if applicable to the club)

*The above qualifications may be held collectively by the one (1) proficient Bronze Medallion (PSAR CERT II) holder.

A decision to adopt a Surveillance or Inclement Weather Patrol sits with the Patrol Captain once conditions and beach attendance have been assessed. Patrol Captain’s must utilise the following criteria when considering a Surveillance or Inclement Weather Patrol:

• • Patrol Flags and Surf Craft Boundary Flags are to be removed from the beach.
• • The beach is closed, and surveillance and supervision are required per the Lifesaving Service Agreement.
• • The Club Captain or Patrol Captain identify that lifesavers are needed to provide supervision and surveillance for the safety of the public outside the agreed Lifesaving Service Agreement hours.
• • A surveillance patrol may continue even after council lifeguard services have left the beach if the Club Captain/Director of Lifesaving or Patrol Captain believe supervision and surveillance is required, based on the number of patrons in the water or at the beach.
• • The club Emergency Call-Out Team (ECOT) have been alerted, particularly those members on the ECOT who hold IRB qualifications, should an IRB be required to respond to an emergency incident during the outlined lifesaving service agreement hours.
• • Surveillance/Inclement weather patrols are not to occur before dawn or after dusk.

If a Surf Lifesaving Club operates a Surveillance or Inclement Weather Patrol a patrol member must notify the State Operations Centre (SURFCOM) via radio. The State Duty Officer must ensure the Branch Duty Officer is aware of this decision.