Lifeguards catch more than just waves in Coffs Harbour

More than 100 of Australia’s finest career Council Professional Ocean Lifeguards from south eastern NSW to Noosa in the Queensland have gather in Coffs Harbour this week for the annual three day National Professional Ocean Lifeguard Industry Conference.

The conference commenced on Wednesday and runs until Friday 1st May 2009 and provides opportunities for ocean lifeguard professionals to compare and review best practices in rescue, emergency care and beach management.

Current National President of the Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA), Greg Hackfath, who is also the Lifeguard Coordinator at Coffs Harbour, says that “like previous APOLA annual conferences which have given rise to using modern medical approaches such defibrillation, the use of analgesic gases for pain management and advanced spinal trauma management, there is always something new for professional lifeguards to learn for better delivering the highest standards of service and patient care”.

Hackfath went onto to say that “there are the ever expanding numbers of people choosing to use our beaches all around Australia in a range of different recreational purists and so improved procedures for using key rescue equipment such lifeguard power craft (jet ski with rescue sled) as well as evaluating other programs and equipment used are listed for the workshop sessions."

APOLA National Secretary/Treasurer John Andrews added "this years conference will address many issues and topics to be covered include the science of hazard identification including rips, systems for improved surveillance of swimmers and reducing the threat of human contact with sharks and various education programs for increasing beach user awareness for improved safety and enjoyment of the surf and beach experience.

"The challenge for all Councils who control and manage our beaches is to continually look to improve all aspects of their Lifeguard operations to ensure that programs always address risk management and sustainability for our beaches in a time when there is increasing community demand in the use our beaches for recreational activity.”

APOLA media spokesperson and professional lifeguard of more than twenty years, Terry McDermott, who regularly works at busy Bondi Beach says that “the continued population shift to coastal areas and trends in beach recreation like the use of jet skis, kite boards and commercial activity in learn-to-surf and learn-to-paddle have impacted on the traditional role of Council professional ocean lifeguards. Community expectation has risen for Councils to provide highly trained lifeguards with a full of knowledge on risk management, rescue, environmental issues and high level skills in dealing with sometimes anti-social behaviour.”

Greg Hackfath said that not only does the annual industry conference provide career professionals with an opportunity to discuss improvements for water safety in and around beaches, it also provides a time for recognising professional lifeguard contributions through meritorious and service excellence in their lifeguard work at the annual meritorious and service awards dinner to be held on the this evening at the BreakFree Aanuka Beach Resort on Diggers Beach.

During the conference Australia's popular beaches remain open, at Newcastle City, Wollongong City, together with Sydney Councils Manly, Waverley (Bondi), Randwick and Sutherland, as well as beaches on Sunshine and Gold Coasts. As McDermott concludes “while many lifeguards will be attending the annual conference a strong roster of experienced professionals will be at our most popular beaches in Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney and on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts”.

The APOLA conference has been supported by national sponsors Coastalwatch and Yamaha in conjunction with APOLA and Coffs Harbour City Council.