Gold Coast lifesavers and lifeguards are preparing for another bumper Easter holiday period, and are urging beachgoers to do their part to stay safe in the water.
‘Swim between the red and yellow flags’ is the simple message being pushed to locals and visitors, who are expected to take full advantage of the warm weather and head to the beach in spades.
Last Easter, Gold Coast volunteer lifesavers recorded almost 90,000 beachgoers over the four-day break – and this figure is expected to be topped this year.
To help keep them safe, SLSQ has increased lifesaving services on the beach, in the water and in the sky.
Volunteer lifesavers performed 18 rescues over the four-day Easter period last year and almost 3,200 preventative actions.
They also treated 35 marine stings and provided first aid for 77 people.
There will be additional jetski patrols to service unpatrolled areas, as well as roving beach patrols and increased communications capacity.
The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service will also increase the number of daily patrols to keep an eye on the bathing public and marine creatures from above.
Gold Coast Regional Operations Manager Nathan Fife is urging beachgoers and boaties to follow the advice of lifesavers and emergency services so everyone can enjoy the Easter holidays safely.
“The overwhelming majority of rescues and drownings are occurring outside patrolled areas or outside of patrol hours so it is important for beachgoers to be aware of their surroundings and walk the extra few hundred metres to swim between the red and yellow flags,” Mr Fife says.
“Similarly, we want to remind boaties to take the necessary precautions to safely enjoy our pristine waterways. Make sure you have all emergency equipment, including lifejackets, EPIRB, and signalling and communication devices.”
It is a simple message from lifesavers – if they can’t see, they can’t save you!
