Flagging trouble all in day’s work
Keeping an eye on rips, tides and changing weather to make sure beaches are safe to swim is the job of Manawatu¯ ’s vigilant surf lifesavers.
The Palmerston North Surf Life Saving Club looks after Himatangi Beach and the club’s lifeguards are on their toes as Kiwis flock to the beach during summer.
The club is one of many around the country with volunteer lifeguards on duty on weekends from the start of December until the end of March and it also has paid regional guards on duty for six weeks during the peak season.
Lifeguards are on patrol to make sure swimmers keep between the flags and stay out of dangerous spots, and there hasn’t been any major events at Himatangi so far this summer.
Palmerston North’s club captain Lizzy Baty, who is also a volunteer lifeguard, said lifeguards had taken action 50 times to prevent trouble this summer. That includes providing emergency first aid in a couple of cases and one resuscitation, but that was for a medical event, rather than a rescue.
She said the regional guards did five rescues with floating tubes and one rescue with the inflatable rescue boat, while volunteer guards did one rescue and assisted twice.
The Palmerston North club has about 25 guards.
A minimum of three lifeguards is needed on the beach, including one able to drive an inflatable rescue boat.
Depending on conditions, lifeguards may move the flags multiple times a day and they will still open the beach even if it is pouring with rain or it’s windy.
Lifeguards test the waters once the flags are out and before any swimmers go out.
Baty said the relationship had improved between swimmers and lifeguards. Fewer swimmers were cavalier about their safety.
James Fellows-ford is one of the paid regional guards at Himatangi.
‘‘We try to find the safest spot for swimmers to swim, then keep a watch on that area, as well as other parts of the beach.’’
Club chairman Alec Mackay said junior members were provided swim coaching.
They can qualify to become a lifeguard at 14, but have to meet qualifications like swimming ability, first aid and being able to identify victims.
The club has about 12 juniors this year.