Sunshine Coast beach safety a top priority
Sun 16 November 2008
Danielle Mulligan, Journalism
Local surf lifesavers are urging people to be “beach smart” this summer to reduce the number of avoidable deaths and injuries that occur on Sunshine Coast beaches.
With many people preparing to hit the beach and soak up the Queensland sun, it is important to remember that the ocean poses serious threats to safety if people ignore beach conditions and warnings.
Beach conditions rapidly change throughout the day, catching swimmers off-guard.
This can be avoided if Surf lifesavers’ preventive measures and warnings are obeyed.
Queensland surf lifesavers are crucial in maintaining, promoting and educating beach safety, with the Sunshine Coast branch being the largest in the State and the majority of its beaches patrolled on a daily basis.
Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club’s club and patrol captain Ben Allsopp says that, although the majority of people have a basic understanding of beach safety, it is important for beachgoers to have the ability to read beach conditions.
“We only patrol on weekends and set stretches of beach, so everyone should know whether they are risking their lives by going into hazardous surf on an unpatrolled beach,” Mr Allsopp says.
Rips, dangerous surf and strong water currents are serious, life threatening and occur on Sunshine Coast beaches everyday.
Surf Lifesaving Queensland says that being “beach smart” involves understanding potential surf hazards and how to avoid them, as well as knowing how to help someone if they are in trouble.
The role of surf lifesavers is to ensure that everyone who visits the beach has an enjoyable day while maintaining safety and staying alert to changing surf conditions.
Although the majority of people adhere to beach safety and warnings from surf lifesavers, there are still many people who are complacent when it comes to safety and get caught in dangerous conditions.
Mr Allsopp says that it is extremely frustrating when people don’t listen or obey warnings and then end up in life threatening situations.
“It is in everyone’s best interest to follow our guidelines,” Mr Allsopp says.
Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club patrol captain David McLean, who has been an active lifesaver for 28 years and has saved approximately 50 lives, agrees that it is incredibly frustrating when people ignore warnings.
“More often than not you see people…get into difficultly and require…saving by those they have just ignored or abused,” Mr McLean says.
Becoming a member of a surf club can be extremely beneficial for those who wish to learn about beach safety and awareness.
Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club, along with the majority of other clubs on the Sunshine Coast, comprises nippers lifesaving (children) through to masters’ lifesaving (adult) for a full education.
Children who are involved in nippers are taught beach safety, how to indentify rips and currents, first aid and how to rescue a person from dangerous surf conditions while maintaining fitness and fun.
Mr Allsopp believes that it is highly beneficial for children to be a member of nippers, as it teaches them to be beach smart at an early age while not compromising fun.
“Many drownings that occur involve children, so being given knowledge of what to do in an emergency and how to help someone, even if they might not be able to perform CPR, they can at least call ‘000’ and can give the best information and potentially save someone’s life,“ Mr Allsopp says.
Adults are also included when it comes to learning how to be beach smart, with local surf lifesaving club membership offering endless possibilities to ensure safety when at the beach.
Mr McLean says that the Marcoola Surf Lifesaving Club is active in monitoring and talking with its members and the general public of preventive surf actions, and constantly provides general warnings and information on the importance of being alert while at the beach.
The beach forms a major part of the Sunshine Coast culture, with many of Queensland’s most beautiful beaches located on our doorstep.
However avoidable injuries and deaths still occur every year.
Mr McLean says that it is crucial for people to obey lifesavers warnings in order to reduce the amount of drownings and life threatening injuries in the surf.
“Swim between the flags, don’t become a statistic…if we can’t see you we can’t save you, and if there is no flags then that equals no swim, “ Mr McLean says.
As summer approaches and people prepare to flock to Sunshine Coast beaches, it is important to be beach smart and appreciative for the patrolling lifesavers, as they are more than happy to protect beach-goers from unsafe conditions.
Image(s) designed by Danielle Mulligan