Surf Ski Carnival in Alexandra Heads.

Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. Originating in early 20th century Australia, the movement has expanded globally to such countries as New Zealand and South Africa. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x648, 120 KB) Summary Surf Ski Carnival - Alexandra Headlands Surf Life Saving Club Queensland Australia - Photo:IDB Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x648, 120 KB) Summary Surf Ski Carnival - Alexandra Headlands Surf Life Saving Club Queensland Australia - Photo:IDB Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999...

History

1908 photograph of Redhead Surf Life Saving Club.

Surf lifesaving originated in Australia in 1907 in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney. Such groups became necessary following the relaxing of laws prohibiting daylight bathing on Australian beaches^[1]. Volunteer groups of men were trained in lifesaving methods and patrolled the beaches as lifeguards looking after public safety. Image File history File links Redhead_Surf_Life_Saving_Club_1908. ... Image File history File links Redhead_Surf_Life_Saving_Club_1908. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

The original surf lifesaving club is a matter of contention between the Bronte and Bondi beach clubs in Sydney. Bronte Surf Life Saving Club claims to be the “First Surf Club in the World since 1903”. This is based on minutes of a meeting held in 1907 (found at the local library in 1982), which was noted to be the fourth AGM of the club, as well as a time capsule from 1931 (unearthed during renovations of the club house) in which documents record then President and Gen. Secretary of Surf Lifesaving Australia unanimously declaring Bronte to be the first club. The Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club also claims to be the “world’s first life saving club”. It was officially established on February 21, 1907 at the Royal Hotel in Bondi - as was recorded in the newspaper The East Sydney Argus, and in the Waverley Council Minutes acknowledging receipt of a letter from the newly formed group.

According to current evidence, it may therefore be correct to say Bronte was the 'first' club, but Bondi was the 'first official' club.

Whatever the original club, it is certain that on October 10, 1907 the Surf Bathing Association of NSW (SBANSW) was founded – with 9 clubs and affiliated associations.

The [1] (SLSA GB) was formed in 1955. Volunteer clubs patrolled beaches at Bude and St Agnes in Cornwall and Brighton, their aim to protect, rescue and resuscitate bathers. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In military tactics, to patrol, or conduct a patrol, is to conduct reconnaissance of a designated area or route. ... CPR redirects here. ...

Rescue services

Lifesavers are volunteers that typically patrol in groups under a patrol captain for a given period of time on weekend and public holidays under a roster system. In order to be a surf lifesaver a person must hold a Bronze Medallion or a Surf Rescue Certificate and pass an annual proficiency test. Lifesavers who are on patrol wear red and yellow cloth caps on the head. While not performing rescues they are also required to wear long-sleeve yellow shirts and red shorts to provide protection against the sun. Support Service Lifesavers are required to wear the appropriate functional attire. This includes wetsuits for RWC (Rescue Water Craft) drivers, JRB/ORB (jet and offshore rescue boat) crew. The crews of various Lifesaver helicopter services over the country wear appropriate aviation equipment. Each surf lifesaving club also has a competition cap with distinct colours or patterns. These are worn during competition and for training on the beach. The patrolled area of the beach is marked out with flags and beachgoers are encouraged to swim between the flags. Those wishing to use surfcraft are required to remain outside the flags. // New Zealand and Australia In New Zealand and Australia you must gain your Bronze Medallion in order to become a qualified Surf Lifesaver. ... The Dannebrog, national flag of Denmark. ... This article concentrates on human swimming. ...

In the UK, SLSA GB has a long history of voluntary members patrolling local beaches, offering advice, first aid and rescue services. This continues today and is a vital service to the community. Many local authorities provide a lifeguard service from May to September on popular beaches. In some areas RNLI Lifeguards operate on behalf of the local authority. Patrolling is a military tactic. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... RNLI Lifeboat at Calshot Spit The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. ...

Competition

The other key part of surf lifesaving is the competitive sport which evolved from the training activities of lifeguards at Australian surf beaches, though most events share little with modern Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) based surf rescue techniques. The sport is still based around the volunteer clubs which perform the rescue duty, from the children in the "nippers" though to professional elite circuits that have been established for the high-profile "ironman" events. The sport is mainly still confined to Australia and New Zealand, although the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service in Canada started the Nova Scotia Surf League competitions every summer since 2000. In Europe the sport is increasingly developed, with Spain and Germany particularly strong and the UK developing rapidly. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs) have been used for Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand and Australia since the late 80s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, or NSLS, has been guarding Nova Scotias beaches since 1972. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

Surf lifesaving clubs regularly hold surf carnivals where clubs compete with each other in a range of beach- and rescue-oriented events including combined swimming and running, surf ski and surf boat races. The youth arm of the clubs is known as Nippers, and holds similar events. Nippers marching at a surf carnival. ... Competition is the act of striving against another force for the purpose of achieving dominance or attaining a reward or goal, or out of a biological imperative such as survival. ... A surf ski is a light recreational water craft with an long narrow displacement type hull, an open or sit-on-top cockpit and almost invariably with a foot pedal controlled rudder. ... Surf boat competition during a surf carnival. ... Nippers in surf lifesaving are young Surf Lifesavers aged between 7 and 13 years old. ...

The various events involve elements of surf swimming, board riding, sand running, mock rescues using rowed surf boats, and paddling special kayak-like surf skis. Some events are for individuals, but many are team events. A kayak is a small human-powered boat. ... A surf ski is an elongated open cockpit kayak used for surf lifesaving or flat-water racing. ...

Individual surf lifesaving events include:

• Ironman
• Surfboat
• R&R (Rescue & Resuscitation)
• March Past
• Beach events (including Beach Sprints, Beach Relays and Flags)
• Surf Ski
• First Aid Competition, Champion Lifesaver and Patrol Competition
• Board events
• IRB racing

The sport of Ironman was developed in 1964 in Australia to combine the four main disciplines of surflifesaving into a single race- swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running. ... A surfboat is an oar-driven boat designed to go out in heavy surf or severe waves. ... R&R can mean: Remove and refit; to remove a component from a vehicle to repair it or to gain access to other components, and then re-install it. ... Five Time Canadian National Beach Flag Champion Katie Campbell Works her Magic (In foreground) Flags is a training sport used by Surf lifesavers to practice beach sprinting and reflexes. ... The surfski is a light recreational water craft, which combines charcteristics from both a kayak and a surfboard. ... First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ... In military tactics, to patrol, or conduct a patrol, is to conduct reconnaissance of a designated area or route. ... IRB stands for Inflatable Rescue Boat. ...

Lifesaving around the world

In Australia

Main article: Surf Life Saving Australia

Surf lifesaving in Australia is well-developed as both a voluntary lifeguard service and as a competitive sport. There are 303 surf lifesaving clubs in Australia that collectively patrol over 400 beaches. In the 2003-2004 season there were 24,968 active members (those who are rostered to patrol regularly), of which approximately 40% are women. In the 2003-2004 patrol season, lifesavers performed 9,044 rescues, provided emergency care to 26,739 patients, and undertook 171,965 preventative actions. Surf lifesaving is a multifaceted movement that comprises key aspects of voluntary lifeguard services and competitive surf sport. ... Under-12 aged nippers in start position before their swim in Stanwell Park, dressed in local SLSC uniform. ...

Surf Lifesavers provide important lifeguard services on beaches in Australia on weekends and public holidays throughout the patrol season on a volunteer basis. In New South Wales the season coincides with the beginning of the September school holidays and finishes on ANZAC Day. They also provide year-round on-call volunteer rescue services in most areas known as Support Services. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... The Beach in Calella, Spain. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Australian War Memorial, 25 April 2005, 90th anniversary Australia and New Zealand commemorate the ANZAC Day public holiday on 25 April every year to honour the bravery and sacrifice of the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), and of all those...

Lifesavers are distinguished in Australia from paid lifeguards which are generally employed by the relevant Local Government authority and patrol the beach throughout the year. Lifeguards also patrol lakes, pools, and other aquatic venues. Support Services also operate to augment the patrols on the beach by providing surveillance away from the flag areas and emergency back-up when required. It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

In the British Isles

Main article: Royal Life Saving Society UK

Lifesaving and lifeguarding are promoted as a sport and a life skill by the Royal Life Saving Society UK. There are over 2000 lifesaving clubs based throughout the UK and Ireland, which teach skills such as drowning prevention, life support and personal survival. The learning of lifesaving takes place in a variety of water environments, such as swimming pools, inland water venues and at coastal locations. Often clubs coach their members towards achieving RLSS awards, the flagship award being the Bronze Medallion. Subsequent awards include the Award of Merit, which is followed by Open Water exams of the Bronze and Siver Crosses. The final award of lifesaving is that of Distinction, an award that demands a very high level of skill from the participant. Training programmes exist for all ages, from young children to adults. Some lifesaving and lifeguard clubs operate as volunteer organisations, providing safety cover at locations where there would otherwise be none. Lifesavers, The Royal Lifesaving Society UK, is the governing body for lifesaving and lifeguarding in the United Kingdom. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Lifesavers, The Royal Lifesaving Society UK, is the governing body for lifesaving and lifeguarding in the United Kingdom. ... Life support, in the medical field, refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patients life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided. ... Impact of a drop of water Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. ... 50 meter indoor swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, or wading pool is an artificially enclosed body of water intended for recreational or competitive swimming, diving, or for other bathing activities that involve swimming, e. ... // The Award of Merit is available to any lifesaver who has obtained their Bronze Medallion and Life Support 2. ... // The Award of Merit is available to any lifesaver who has obtained their Bronze Medallion and Life Support 2. ... // The Award of Merit is available to any lifesaver who has obtained their Bronze Medallion and Life Support 2. ... // The Award of Merit is available to any lifesaver who has obtained their Bronze Medallion and Life Support 2. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The RLSS organises both national and regional speed and skills ompetitions and many clubs, including university affiliated clubs (organised through the British Universities Lifesaving Clubs Association (BULSCA)) field teams at these events. Representation of a university class, 1350s. ...

In New Zealand

Main article: Surf Life Saving New Zealand

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) is the organisation that controls surf lifesaving in New Zealand. ...

See also

• International Life Saving Federation
• Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships
• Royal Life Saving Society Australia

The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) is an organization for water safety and life saving. ... The Commonwealth Pool Lifesaving Championships is an international event where swimmers from around the Commonwealth take part in lifesaving sport events. ... The Royal Life Saving Society Australia is the leading water safety educator in Australia and is dedicated to the teaching of lifesaving and the prevention of drowning. ...

Reference

1. ^ Surf Life Saving - Stories from Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal [Online], Commonwealth Government of Australia, 2006. Available at http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/surflifesaving/

• David Eaton (1995). Lifesaving: Handbook of The Royal Life Saving Society United Kingdom. RLSS UK. ISBN 0-907082-59-9. 

External links

• International Life Saving Federation