We are about continuous improvement and a no-blame culture, Surf Life Saving New Zealand shares learnings and decision-making examples from actual incidents and accidents that our members have experienced, to help prevent avoidable accidents.
During a midweek training session at an Eastern Region Surf Life Saving Club, the crew was engaged in IRB Crewperson and Driver Training. On the beach, a trainee IRB Instructor (and qualified Driver) and a trainee IRB Driver were conducting solo driving rotations in the IRB. Read more.
On Sunday, the 14th of April, at a Northern Region beach, the local SLSC commenced a new intake of IRB Drivers Training. They began with a dry session in the morning, covering a refresher of the IRB Crewing module, positioning in the boat, movement within the boat, and a basic introduction to motor maintenance. The crew then proceeded onto the beach for a discussion on driving the IRB and turning. The water training area was set up according to the IRB Training NSOP, with three buoys for the crews to practice their turns. Read more.
At the Oceans Festival of Sport event in early March, Surf Officials spotted a strangely dressed middle-aged man taking photos during the event. When approached, he hurried off the beach. Surf Officials took note of his appearance and clothing. At the start of the Nationals two weeks later, all Surf Officials and the First Aid Team were given the description and advised not to approach him. Instead, they were instructed to observe and call the Event Safety Officer, who would approach the man and clarify his intentions if necessary. Click here for the full review.
In early September as our volunteer surf lifeguards started returning to training and jumping back into the IRB we had a surf lifeguard taking part in an organised IRB crewpersons training session with their SLSC on their home beach. This member was a trainee crewperson with an experienced IRB driver when they approached a small ½ metre broken wave, the crewperson’s right foot slipped from where it was resting on the fuel bladder, slipping back and becoming wedged between the side pontoon and the floorboard....Click here for the full review.
On a nice sunny day in the southern region, a school was enjoying the water component of Beach Education when a child fell over near an in-water Beach Education instructor. The instructor witnessed the child get knocked over by a wave, find their feet, stand back up, and continue playing in the waves. Another wave soon knocked over the same child. The Instructor approached, picked the child up, and noticed they were showing some mild respiratory distress (coughing, elevated respiration rate). Click here for the full review.
Recently, at a Northern Region beach, an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) driver was out on patrol with two 14-year-old female crewpersons. The IRB driver identified that the purpose of their training was to enhance the crewpersons’ time and experience in the IRB. The training specifically involved parallel running, ins and outs in the surf, and some patient pick-ups in the surf. Click here for the full review.
Two club members had decided to enter their local Long Hull Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Event in the coming weeks. The driver had raced IRBs previously, although not for some time, and the crewperson hadn’t raced IRBs before but was comfortable and qualified to crew the IRB. They decided to have a training session on a Sunday afternoon with a focus on getting boat fit/ready and practicing their starts off the beach. Click here for the full review.