Lifeguards ready for ‘long hot summer’

Surf lifeguards fear a repeat of last summer's beach drowning toll as the country prepares for what could be a long, hot summer.

The Surf Life Saving New Zealand's patrol season officially begins on Labour Weekend and as the weather warms up and people start to think about hitting the beach, lifeguards are calling for caution.

Labour Weekend will see the official start of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's patrol season. Photo: File

Clubs in the Coromandel and Mount Maunganui will begin their voluntary patrols this Labour Weekend, while patrols will roll out across the rest of Bay of Plenty over the next month.

SLSNZ chief executive officer Paul Dalton says most drownings occur at unpatrolled beaches.

'There were eight drownings at beaches in January alone, just under the total number of beach drownings for all of 2014,” says Grant. 'Overall, 90 people - mostly men and including eight pre-school children - drowned in New Zealand last year.”

None of those were at patrolled beaches and at the 80 patrol locations around the country, volunteer lifeguards were kept on their toes, preventing hundreds more drownings from adding to that toll.

Last month, water safety organisations joined together to develop a collaborative plan to address New Zealand's high drowning toll - setting ambitious new targets in the process.

Grant says it's time the public realise just how serious New Zealand's drowning toll is.

'It's sad because the beach is New Zealand's favourite playground but it can also be extremely dangerous.

'If people can change their 'she'll be right' attitude towards surf safety, so they don't underestimate the risks and overestimate their own abilities, then we will be on our way to helping reduce drowning on our beaches.”

Traditionally, the surf life saving patrol season begins at Labour Weekend and continues through to Easter.

Water Safety NZ chief executive officer Matt Claridge is welcoming the upcoming start of Surf Life Saving NZ's patrol season.

'Surf lifeguards play an absolutely crucial role in helping keep New Zealand's most popular beaches safe during the summer months,” says Matt. 'Special mention should be made of the huge number of volunteers that give up their time so that others can enjoy the sun and surf safely.”

Matt explains that 2015 has so far been disappointing, with 71 drownings in New Zealand waters, compared to 65 at the same time last year.

He says the water safety sector is absolutely committed to achieving new, shared goals of halving the male drowning toll and bringing the pre-school toll down to zero.

'But if we're to do this we need all New Zealanders to step up and make water safety a priority,” adds Matt.

SLSNZ encourages beach goers to adhere to a few simple rules: be prepared, watch out for yourself and others, be aware of the dangers and know your limits and where ever possible swim between the flags.

For more information and handy tips to keep yourself and loved one safe at the beach this summer visit the Sur Life Saving NZ website at: www.surflifesaving.org.nz

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1 comment

Tough life

Posted on 13-10-2015 17:03 | By Plonker

Sun, waves and babes


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