Crusade halves rescues

12.05.2010

INCREASED publicity about swimming
between the flags following
three drownings may be responsible
for halving the number of people
rescued this lifesaving season.
However, this weekend's end to
the official lifesaving season has
sparked calls for beachgoers to take
extra care.
According to Surf Life Saving
Queensland figures, 876 people were
rescued to the end of March, while
last year's numbers for the same
period were 1730.
Surf Life Saving Queensland lifesaving
services co-ordinator Stuart
Hogben said that after three tourists
drowned in January he saw a significant
change in people's behaviour at
the beach.
"We particularly noticed it when
the conditions were rough. People
were much more likely to swim
between the flags," he said.
"It shouldn't take a drowning to
get people to do the right thing but
the level of publicity about surf
safety had an impact on the swimmers
and the surf lifesavers."
The April figures are still being
totalled but the March figures
showed the most rescues for the season
were conducted at Surfers Paradise,
Kurrawa and Southport.
Michaela Henderson, 14, who
started patrolling this season at
Surfers Paradise said `it was quite
scary to begin with'.
"I was involved in quite a few preventive
rescues," she said.
"Surfers is busy, but it is good having
something to do all the time."
Although now is traditionally a
slow time on the beaches, a combination
of continuing warm water and
good weather means plenty of people
will still use the beach.
Chief lifeguard Warren Young
said the number of patrolled beaches
on the Coast would go from 43 to 27.
"The water temperature is 23
degrees now and will be that until
late May," he said.
Mr Young said Burleigh and Currumbin
remained good options for
people looking for a safe beach to
swim at during the winter.
"We ask that people please do not
swim after hours when there is no
one on patrol," he said.
Bilinga, Tugun, Kirra, Palm Beach,
Pacific and North Kirra are not
patrolled during the winter.