Information for all Active Patrolling Members
Patrol dates and hours are set down by Surf Life Saving Central Coast – the traditional patrolling season is from the October long weekend through to the ANZAC Day weekend. Patrols are rostered every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday throughout this period.
Club Captain - The Director of Lifesaving is the club captain, their role is to coordinate and oversee all lifesaving responsibilities of the club, including patrol rostering, proficiencies and record of attendance.
Patrol Obligations
All Active Members - without exception – are required to meet their patrol requirements as rostered by the Club. Every patrolling member is also required to perform an annual proficiency test, in order to refresh and refine the skills and knowledge learned through their qualifications (which at the very least will be the Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate). The Bronze Medallion proficiency test includes a timed run-swim-run, resuscitation, signals and patrol scenarios. More details regarding proficiency tests are available under Education & Training.
Patrol Hours
Please turn up to patrol on time and early if possible, the time listed on your roster is the time that patrols must be on the beach, remember that it takes 15 to 20 minutes prior to start time to get the patrol set up and also to close down the patrol. This time should be shared by all patrol members.
Patrol Uniform
As a member of Terrigal SLSC you should take pride in the uniform which you wear. The official uniform is NOT optional, for OH&S, visibility and professional standards reasons, and includes
• Patrol Cap (red and yellow quartered, you must bring your own every patrol)
• Patrol Shirt (yellow) and Patrol Shorts (red) – available from the white cupboard in the tower, please place in yellow bin at conclusion of patrol for washing)
• Swimmers (preferably club costume), hat and sunglasses (optional)
Please do not wear casual clothes on patrol. Your uniform (except cap) is supplied and laundered by the club. Do not take your uniform home, there have been times where we have run out of uniforms.
All patrol members must (legibly) sign on and off patrol in the patrol log. All logs are legal records.
Duties while on patrol include constant surveillance of the beach from the rock pool in the south to beyond the bend in the north, prevention of potential dangers to the beach going public, treatment of any injured person, provision of public information, maintenance of equipment and any other duties deemed necessary by your patrol captain and vice captain.
You are constantly under the scrutiny of the public, and they expect an extremely high standard. Please be aware of your language, actions and general behaviour at all times.
Duty of Care / Public Liability
All Members have a duty of care for the public and fellow club members. Public Liability Insurance is cover which is available if a member of the public or a Surf Life Saving Club member takes legal action (civil) for alleged negligence against SLSA or its members – including all financial Terrigal Members.
If Members follow safety and precautionary measures set by SLSA, use SLSA approved equipment and remain vigilant the need for public liability insurance will be minimised. Any Member acting in a manner that constitutes wilful misconduct or wilful negligence may not be covered by insurance and could be personally liable for any loss or damage resulting from his/her actions.
Patrol Absence
If you cannot make a rostered patrol, you should try and do a swap with a member of another patrol. This is called a patrol substitution and to obtain 100% patrol attendance you must do the makeup patrol for the other person.
If you cannot find another member to swap with, notify your patrol captain BEFORE the patrol that you will not be in attendance. This is vital for those who hold specialist qualifications such as IRB as we need a certain level of qualification on the beach for patrol.
Parking
You can obtain a parking permit from the Admin office at the beginning of the season to enable you to park in designated spots in the carpark ONLY WHEN YOU ARE ON PATROL. Please do not abuse this system by parking there any other time regardless of your duties at the club.
100% Attendance
Patrolling Members who attend every rostered patrol (or have an organized substitute and make up the hours) may be recognised with a 100% attendance award at the annual awards of excellence night. To gain 100% attendance, a Member must be on patrol from the start of rostered patrol to the finish (e.g. 8am to 1pm).
