Post by aquaplay1 on Feb 8, 2010 9:38:21 GMT 10
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Targetting those who swim at unpatrolled beaches - 29/01/2010
Love the debate that these articles provide keep it up.
First let's get some things straight. Mr Leahy may have been a SLS volunteer for maybe 25 years. This doesn't compare to the minds and experience of the professional lifeguards and experts in certain fields that Mr Andrews gathers his information from.
The small band you talk of which in reality is very large is consulted on all topics.
The rip education SLSA has embarked on before APOLA came public with their views consulted the APOLA NETWORK larger than the 350 fellow professional lifeguards you talk of.
It is fantastic that you have recognised that to stay calm float and call for help is the most important message but you back flip with your comment on who are they going to wave to.
99% of the time there will be somone nearby, mostly the unsung heroes, the SURFERS who save lives 12 months of the year, who come to the aid of pro lifeguards people you very rearly recognise.
They are out there for 12 months of the year from early to late surfing or doing surf checks thousands of them up and down the coast.
NOW
If you are not a confident swimmer you float and conserve energy which can be up to hours in some cases. I would recognize a competent swimmer for a surf environment as, for example, a pool swim of 800m in under 14 minutes. Everyone else, float conserve energy to stay alive don't panic call for help.
To tell somone who is not a competent swimmer to swim parrellell (some people don't Know what parrellell means) they may swim into the actual Rip they are caught in i've seen it happen. As we know RIPS do not just flow out to sea they can and do run parrellell to the shore. In 99% of the time this person caught in a rip are unaware of their predicament and will not know the correct way to swim. To be able to do this takes years of surf experience. But to float to save your life, not panic to save your life, call for help to save your life takes seconds to achieve and is the only message to provide the public if caught in a rip.
SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS
Targetting those who swim at unpatrolled beaches - 29/01/2010
Love the debate that these articles provide keep it up.
First let's get some things straight. Mr Leahy may have been a SLS volunteer for maybe 25 years. This doesn't compare to the minds and experience of the professional lifeguards and experts in certain fields that Mr Andrews gathers his information from.
The small band you talk of which in reality is very large is consulted on all topics.
The rip education SLSA has embarked on before APOLA came public with their views consulted the APOLA NETWORK larger than the 350 fellow professional lifeguards you talk of.
It is fantastic that you have recognised that to stay calm float and call for help is the most important message but you back flip with your comment on who are they going to wave to.
99% of the time there will be somone nearby, mostly the unsung heroes, the SURFERS who save lives 12 months of the year, who come to the aid of pro lifeguards people you very rearly recognise.
They are out there for 12 months of the year from early to late surfing or doing surf checks thousands of them up and down the coast.
NOW
If you are not a confident swimmer you float and conserve energy which can be up to hours in some cases. I would recognize a competent swimmer for a surf environment as, for example, a pool swim of 800m in under 14 minutes. Everyone else, float conserve energy to stay alive don't panic call for help.
To tell somone who is not a competent swimmer to swim parrellell (some people don't Know what parrellell means) they may swim into the actual Rip they are caught in i've seen it happen. As we know RIPS do not just flow out to sea they can and do run parrellell to the shore. In 99% of the time this person caught in a rip are unaware of their predicament and will not know the correct way to swim. To be able to do this takes years of surf experience. But to float to save your life, not panic to save your life, call for help to save your life takes seconds to achieve and is the only message to provide the public if caught in a rip.
SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS