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Gold Coast Suns now lifeguards too
16.08.2010
THE players of the Gold Coast Suns can kick a Sherrin footy, handball, and now they can save lives too.The city's lifesaving stocks have received a timely boost just before summer with 43 members of the club's playing list and staff now newly qualified lifesavers.
In a move believed to be unprecedented in the AFL, Suns coach Guy McKenna late last year instructed all his charges to qualify for the bronze medallion through the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.
The players now know the ins and outs of rescue techniques, caring for basic injuries, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, aquatic survival and rescue skills, basic management of spinal injuries and performing a rescue.
The course was seen as an essential component of the club's community program, as well as ensuring the playing squad who have come together from all over the nation embraced the Gold Coast culture of sun, surf and sand.
They have all completed the course and you will soon see the players patrolling at a beach near you.
Suns ruckman Rory Thompson said all the players were proud to now be able to call themselves lifesavers.
''It was pretty early on in the year that we started the course,'' he said..
''Every Thursday morning we would go down and do a bit of training in the water.
''We all loved it. It wasn't too strenuous but it was also a good challenge at the same time.
''We have had a few close calls during recovery sessions out on the beach this year, so it was a pretty good idea to do the bronze medallion.''Thompson, a Gold Coast local, said it was hard not to enjoy the course.
''There are couple of us local boys who know the beach well and really got in to it,'' he said.
''A couple of the Melbourne boys who enjoy the warmer weather loved it as well.
''We have had a few players like Tom Nicholls and Michael Gugliotta who have already done patrols.''
Suns communication boss Greg Price said all players will be expected to volunteer for lifeguard duty over summer.
''It is a great skill to have and you can expect see our boys in the beaches
