Patrol Captain liases with WSS and alerts Surfcom. Missing Body Arms Crossed In water. Keep everyone on beach

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1 Policy To From Subject : Lost submerged Patient for Nippers and General Public : Nippers, PC s Board Of Management : Life Saving Committee : Evacuation and Lost/Submerge Patient Version : 5 Date : 7 September 2014 WATER SAFETY SUMMARY FOR SUBMERGED OR LOST PATIENT/NIPPER. RESP Water Safety co oridnates search with Nipper Director & Patrol Patrol Captain liases with WSS and alerts Surfcom Age Managers, move Nipper Groups into park Roll call Life Guards have ulitimate responsibilty ALARM Count In Count Out, Missing Body Arms Crossed In water Mass Evacuation Continuous Siren PC Alert Surfcom Rescue 3 times Move to Channel 1 EVACUATE All Swimmers, craft and pubilc out of water Keep everyone on beach Keep Nippers far away as possible, back of Surfclub SEARCH Identify last known postion Send IRB and boards with goggles to area to search Conduct Line Search Lapping or Circular RESCUE DRSABCD AMBULANCE POLICE 1. Background Recent request from SLSLA t need to review Nippers Water Safety procedures. Bronte remains one of the most dangerous beaches in NSW. Nipper Numbers are increasing each year adding to the risk of incident

2 2. Definitions WSS- Water Safety Supervisor WSP Water Safety Personnel ND- Nipper Director CC- Club Captain PC Patrol Captain LG Life Guards AM- Age Manager 3. Requirements 3.1. Control Structure (Reference: SLSA Policy Water Safety 55/ ) When there is a patrol on the beach, control of water activities is the responsibility of the Patrol captain (PC). The designated water safety supervisor (WSS) must liaise with the PC during risk assessments and during any event. Where there is no patrol on the beach the designated WSS is in charge of the water activity. Note that the Waverly Council Lifeguards have legal responsibility for the beach and their directions must be followed at all times. Ratios: Small waves 1 WSP : 5 Nippers Medium waves 1 WSP : 3 Nippers Junior preliminary evaluations 1 WSP : 1 Nipper Where the water safety ratio is employed, a minimum of 50% of WSP are required in the water, the remaining to be on land conducting surveillance or also in the water. Where members hold a SRC or above, buddy procedure can apply Water Safety Supervisor (Reference: SLSA Policy 1.1 Water Safety) As per SLSA guidelines, every organized water activity must have a designated Water Safety Supervisor (WSS). The WSS is responsible for initial and triggered risk assessments, layout of water activity areas and ensuring the correct ratio of Water Safety Personnel to children are in the water as specified by SLSA Water Safety. Policy Risk Assessments (Reference: SLSA Policy 1.1 Water Safety) Risk assessments of the surf conditions must be carried out by the designated Water Safety Supervisor using the SLSA designated forms or mobile phone app prior to the commencement of every water activities session. The Risk Assessment must be reviewed by the WSS if certain triggers occur and this may result in water activities being modified or suspended. Triggers for this review include changing tides, changing winds, approaching storm, incidences of broken equipment, number and severity of injuries, marine stingers, shark sightings, and concerns raised by (ND), (LG) and PC.

3 3.4. Water Quality Water quality can be a concern at times with storm water flows at north ends of Bronte Beach. Without Specialised equipment, is not possible to judge water quality. The WSS will liaise with LG/PC/ND in the event Water Quality is a concern (visibly poor or smelly) and may suspend water activities if water quality is deemed a risk Radio & Communications The WSS must carry a radio to communicate with PC. The ND or designate must also carry a radio Proficiency Swims Basic Basic Proficiency swims must be held at a Nippers organised pool session in a pool of minimum 25m length to measured swim distances that are specified by Bronte Nippers in compliance with SLSA requirements and completed within specified times High Visibility Vests High visibility vests are mandatory for all water activities to ensure visibility in and under the water. No child/nipper shall take place in an organised water activity unless wearing a high visibility vest Age Groups Caps Club caps are mandatory for all water activities as they both indicate the child is a member and allow Water Safety Personnel to identify different age groups in the water for purposes of segregation, monitoring and counting. No child/nipper shall take place in an organized activity unless wearing a cap Count In Count Out It is the responsibility of the Age Manager to designate an Age Manager Assistant or Water Safety team member Spotter to count children before each surf swim, board race or relay. The Spotter is to conduct a COUNT IN at the start of each event, maintain a watch over the children during the event, and conduct a COUNT OUT AT END OF THE EVENT. The COUNT OUT must include children that complete the course, children that return to shore without completing the course, as well children are that rescued. Particular care must be taken to observe children that drift into adjacent water areas due to cross currents. If the COUNT OUT does not match COUNT IN the Spotter must immediately notify the AM and WSS. Rescue plan will be activated, Use of Finish Gates To ensure all children return to the same water area, if possible Age Managers should erect finish gates and Instruct children/nippers to return to these after their event. Use of finish gates will allow the COUNT IN COUNT OUT process to function more smoothly.

4 3.11. Emergencies In the event of a perceived or actual emergency, AM WSP or Age Assistant will notify the WSS or ND who may activate the Safety Rescue plan. Session correct control and discipline shall be maintained under the direction of the designated WSS and ND. LG have legal responsibility for beach safety. During an emergency, any member of SLSA entering the water or handling any rescue gear must only do so at the direction of the WSS or PC and/or under the direction of the Police or emergency authority. All Members not engaged in actual rescue work should assist in maintaining a clear area so that any rescue attempt can be carried out efficiently. 4. Activation 4.1. WSS ND, PC First Aid Site Patrol tent or First Aid Room/Patrol Room Medical Facilities: Prince of Wales Hospital Water Safety: IRB and crew are available in water, as is a fully resourced patrol at beach LG have both board and jet ski resources available for tasking. Emergency Service request to be made by the PC to Surfcom : call sign Rescue x 3 Switch to Radio Channel 1 for all rescue related communications 4.2. Requests are made by LG if no Patrol 5. Lost/Submerged Patient 5.1. This situation may be witnessed or determined as a result of a discrepancy in Count in, Count out,. Signal via two arms crossed in water by Water Safety Personnel or alerted by age manager. WSS must be notifed immediately. WSS to notify patrol and lifeguards immediately Mass evacuation- continuous siren to be activated by PC/WSS ( see section 6) All water areas to be cleared ASAP by Age Managers and Water Safety Personnel. All children must be move to the back of the beach in age groups at least 200m behind surf club in the picnic grounds People who last sighted patient to be identified and brought to WSS. It is imperative as much information is collected as possible.

5 Parents of missing patients to be identified and informed in a calm manner. No SLSA qualified personnel are to go into the water or attend the rescue situation unless tasked. WSS and Patrol/lifeguards will determine last known position and the position and the possible influence of known currents and set a marker if possible When this is confirmed IRB and /or boards in water will be tasked. PC to dispatch two high point look outs with radios and binoculars at northern end and southern end of the beach. Conduct immediate search at last known position. If in water deeper than standing depth goggles to be used by all involved in the rescue If in water of standing depth All Water Safety Personnel to report to waters edge near IRB If required WSS/PC/LG will instruct Water Safety Personnel to conduct a line search Patients to be recovered to shore as quickly as possible, DRSABCD When PC &/or LG have attended, Water Safety Personnel to follow all directions 5.4. Patrol will fill in an incident report. If no patrol WSS is to fill an Incident report Club Captain and Waverley duty officer to be informed to respond to operational stress concerns. 6. Process Emergency Responses 6.1. Mass Rescue ( more than 2 Swimmers) As per their training, Water Safety Personnel to practice recognition, rescue and recovery. Alarm immediately raised with WSS (two arms raised from the water) or continuous siren (Mass Evacuation) WSS to notify patrol/or lifeguards PC notify Surfcom WSS to task appropriate personnel with appropriate equipment (IRB/Boards) to attend patients. No SLSA qualified personnel to attend the rescue situation unless tasked by WSS or PC. All water to be cleared ( Mass Evacuation) and children/nippers moved to the back of the beach, Rolls to be taken of all children/nippers by AM When PC /or LG have attended, Water Safety Personnel to follow all directions Patrol will fill in an incident report. If no patrol WSS is to fill the incident report Club Captain & Waverley Duty Officer to be informed.

6 7. Aquatic activity risk check and management form

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