ALS lifeguard image

The Australian Lifeguard Service is easily recognised by its distinct red and yellow uniform which is acknowledged by the International Life Saving Federation as the international standard for lifesavers and lifeguards. By wearing the international standard alongside the volunteers there is a seamless integration of services and identification for beach users.

Why red and yellow?

Lifeguards throughout the world are called upon to provide safety services at a range of water environments that include swimming pools, beaches, lakes, river front and other waterfronts.

In providing these aquatic safety services, it is important that the people using these environments for aquatic activity can readily identify the lifeguards for:

• Guidance on safety issues, and
• Assistance in times of need

As such the lifeguards should be readily distinguishable against the many people and colours they may be wearing while in, on or around these aquatic environments.

The red and yellow colours have been used by a number of International Lifesaving Member Federations for many years to such an extent and with much success that red and yellow has become synonymous with lifesavers and lifeguards in these countries.

History

The red and yellow flag was initially used with great success in World War I particularly by ships and when flying at full mast, indicated man overboard and all friendly ships in the vcinity commenced search procedures immediately.

On the 25th April 1915, the red and yellow flag was hoisted to symbolise mateship on the shores of Gallipoli. In order to ensure that the ANZACS could easily recognise friend from foe, the red and yellow flag was conceived to signal a safe haven for their own.

Upon returning from overseas service, Australian soldiers saw the need to establish a common image in the early 1920's to represent safe swimming areas on Australian beaches. The red and yellow flag was born on Australian beaches at the instigation of these men who saw the flag as a representation of years of mateship, service and above all, duty to protect others.

The red and yellow flags colours which are so familiar on Australian beaches today were originally divided diagonally rather than horizontally as they are today.They were considered far more easily identifiable from the water than green or black flags, which were also suggested at the time.

The red and yellow caps the volunteer lifesavers wear and the red and yellow uniforms adopted by lifesavers and lifeguards, branches from the foundations of the red and yellow flag and ensures that lifeguards are easily identifiable to the public, thereby providing beachgoers with the same security they have when they see the flags flying.

International Standards

International Life Saving Federation (ILSF)

The International Life Saving Federation is the peak body for Lifeguard and water safety organisations internationally. It recommends the colours for lifeguard uniforms be red & yellow, as they have been worn by ILSF Member Federations for many years with success in that they are readily distinguishable against the many people and colours they may be wearing while in, on or around aquatic environments.

See: ILS Position Statement: Lifesaver and lifeguard unifroms

Australian Requirements

Australian Water Safety Council

The Australian Water Safety Council comprises all the major water safety organisations and related government agencies in Australia. The AWSC endorse Red and Yellow as the official colours for lifeguard uniforms.

The National Water Safety Plan 2004-2007 endorsed by the federal government notes in Key Result Area 3 “Aquatic Locations” Recommendation 16 “That standardised uniform colours of red and yellow be worn by all lifesavers and lifeguards at aquatic locations to enable ease of recognition by the public”

Australian Government

The National Health and Medical Research Council’s Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water reccommends that Lifeguards should be clearly identifiable to the public by wearing uniforms in the standard international lifesaving colours of red and yellow while on duty.

Surf Life Saving Australia

The SLSA Patrol Uniform Policy states that lifeguards/lifesavers are only to wear a uniform of red and yellow colours to enable easy identification in an emergency.

See: SLSA Policy Statement: Patrol Uniforms

Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia

The RLSA Guidelines for Safe Swimming Pool Operations note that clothing should be distinctive in colour and design to enable patrons and fellow staff to easily identify the person or person’s on duty. Red and yellow are recognised as lifeguard colours in a number of countries including Australia.

Newspoll Survey

An independent newspoll survey was commissioned by SLSA in November 2004. The survey was conduced nationally with 1200 respondents aged 18 or over. Respondents were asked what colour or combination of colours they would you look for when trying to identify a lifeguard or lifesaver.

83.2% (n=1761) indicated red, yellow or a combination of the two. 1.7% (n=37) indicated blue or a blue combination with 8.1% indicating some other colour on the colour spectrum. 7% did not know what colour lifeguards or lifesavers wore This survey clearly indicates a high level of understanding by the public of the use of red and yellow for lifeguards and lifesavers in aquatic environments around the country.