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Start your journey to becoming a Surf Lifesaver at Sorrento

 

Education and Courses Booklet

 

Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC)

The Surf Rescue Certificate provides participants with the skills and knowledge of basic patrolling and surf awareness in order to be able to participate in lifesaving operations and act in the role of Water Safety Personnel.

You must be at least 13 to obtain your Surf Rescue Certificate. This award will allow you to be part of the patrols at Sorrento Beach.

Before you begin training for the SRC you must be able to complete a 200 metre swim in 5 minutes or less.

Learning outcomes:

  • Surf awareness

  • Rescue techniques (boards/rescue tubes)

  • Resuscitation (CPR)

  • First aid

  • Communications

  • Radio operations

  • Standard patrol practices

  • Team work

  • Improve fitness.

Bronze Medallion

The Bronze Medallion course provides participants with the skills and knowledge of patrolling and surf awareness in order to be able to participate in lifesaving operations. This is the core award to be a surf lifesaver in Australia.

This award is open to all members over the age of 15 and involves training in surf awareness, survival, patrol and rescue procedures, emergency care, anatomy and physiology.

As simulated ocean rescues using different rescue equipment will be part of your training you will need a reasonable level of fitness and be able to complete a 400 metre swim in 9 minutes or less. Once you have achieved this our trainers will train you to the level of a proficient life saver.

The Cert II course usually runs for 6 - 8 weeks with both theory and practical elements. On completion you will need to sit for an exam to gain the award.

Course Outcomes:

  • Contribute to the management of work health and safety (WHS)

  • Follow workplace procedures for hazard identification and risk control

  • Describe surfing and environmental conditions and hazards

  • Recognise appropriate beach types, conditions and areas in the surfzone for bathing

  • Demonstrate surf skills

  • Explain the functions of various systems in the human body

  • Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques

  • Perform basic resuscitation techniques (oxygen therapy, defibrillation)

  • Identify basic patient management techniques

  • Communicate in the workplace

  • Perform radio communications using approved SLSA radios

  • Perform patient approaches, support and escapes aided by equipment on a conscious and an unconscious patient

  • Identify people in distress in an aquatic environment

  • Perform surf skills

  • Perform patient retrieval and support unaided by equipment

  • Set up a patrol and describe your role on patrol

  • Demonstrate standard patrol practices

  • Work as part of a team

  • Improve fitness

Provide First Aid

If you are not a great fan of swimming in the ocean it is still possible to be an active and fully contributing member of our patrols.  If you do the Provide First Aid award you can go on patrol as a First Aider.  To do this award you need to be at least 15 years of age.  This course typically takes 1 day.  Provide First Aid is a commercial course so is run separately to our main course calendar.  Contact the office of Paul Berry to sign up for a Provide First Aid course.

 

IRB Crew Course

Provides participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively crew an Inflatable Rescue Boat in surf rescue operations.

Course outcomes: By the end of the course, you will be able to: Crew an IRB:

  • List the different classes of IRB

  • Identify the components of an IRB and ancillary equipment

  • Contribute to the safe and efficient launching of an IRB

  • Demonstrate safe crewing positions while negotiating the surf

  • Perform emergency procedures

  • Observation, hazards and risks are identified and clearly communicated to the driver

Maintain an IRB:

  • Perform pre-operational checks and preventative maintenance of the IRB hull

  • Perform post-operational maintenance of the IRB hull

  • Report major wear or damage according to organisation procedures

  • Perform conscious and unconscious casualty pick-ups

  • ·Perform complex rescues including swimming rescues, sailboarder and kite surfer rescues

IRB Driver Course

The IRB Driver is responsible for safely operating the IRB in the surf zone and managing the IRB Crew.

By the end of this course, you will be able to: Understand the roles and responsibilities of an IRB Driver, including:

  • List the duties of an IRB Driver

  • List the safety considerations when operating an IRB

  • Provide direction to an IRB Crewperson in all their operational duties

  • Communicate effectively with Crewperson, the public and patients in the normal performance of duties

Drive an IRB

  • Identify the components of an IRB motor

  • Launch an IRB safely and efficiently

  • List motor hazards in the surf

  • Safely and efficiently negotiate the surf while driving an IRB

  • Perform emergency procedures

Perform rescues in an IRB as a Driver

  • Perform conscious and unconscious patient pick-ups

  • Perform complex rescue operations including swimming rescues, sailboarder and kite surfer rescues

  • Contribute to search and rescue operations; liaising effectively with other emergency response services as required

Prepare and maintain an IRB motor

  • Perform pre-operational checks and preventative maintenance of the IRB motor

  • Perform post-operations maintenance of the IRB motor

  • Perform motor re-start procedure after submersion in the surf

  • Report major wear and damage according to organisational procedures


Rescue Water Craft Operator

Provides participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively operate a Rescue Water Craft in surf rescue operations.

What qualifications and/or prerequisites do I need?

To undertake this role you need to hold or obtain the following qualifications and prerequisites:

Prerequisites

Bronze Medallion

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques Certificate (ARTC)

 

Patrol Captain

The Patrol Captain is the principle leader of their patrol’s lifesaving functions on the beach. At the operational level, the major function of the Patrol Captain is to ensure effective beach management and rescue capabilities are established and maintained during their rostered watch.

What qualifications and/or prerequisites do I need?

  • Silver Medallion Beach Management

  • Bronze Medallion