Beach patrol season starts
Central Coast Council and Surf Life Saving Central Coast have announced the official opening of the "beach patrol season" on Saturday, September 23, with yellow and red flags being put out on 15 Central Coast beaches including Umina Beach and Ocean Beach.
Council beach safety manager Mr Phil Cantillon said council lifeguards would patrol between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, while Surf Life Saving volunteers would patrol on weekends and public holidays.
During the Christmas holiday period between December 18 and January 28, the beaches would be patrolled for an extra an hour, from 9am to 6pm.
"Flags are up at Umina Beach and our volunteer surf lifesavers are back on the sand and along the shore," said Umina surf club publicity officer Mr Mike Begg.
"Feel free to come and say hi.
"We're currently patrolling from 9am to 5pm each weekend and on public holidays.
"Surf live saving clubs are about both preventing the loss of life and about saving lives," said Mr Begg.
"A life saver saves lives all through the year not just when the flags are out."
With more than 1000, the club had an education program, working with local schools and the public, providing training and qualifications on surf life saving skills and first aid from basic first aid through to advanced techniques.
"Members talk about being in situations where they saved a life, whether it is out doing the shopping, on holidays or finding themselves first on the scene of an accident," said Mr Begg.
Being in the right place at the right time, surf life savers can assist people in life threatening situations keeping them safe until assistance can arrive.
Mr Begg said: "People see the flags out on the beach between September and April, but everyday a surf life saver is walking amongst the community, with the skills to help someone in a medical emergency.
"Surf life savers are about making the community a safer place."
SOURCE:
Interview (Sean Richardson), 28 Sep 2023
Mike Begg, Umina SLSC
Media release, 20 Sep 2023
Phil Cantillon, Central Coast Council