New Surf Instructor Beach Safety Award

New Surf Instructor Beach Safety Award development by Irish Water Safety and Irish Surfing Association

 Participants at the first Surf Instructor Beach Safety Award held in Ballyshannon in June

PRESS RELEASE
12 Aug 2009
NEW SURFING AWARDS -
PROTECTION FOR SURFERS RIDING THE WAVES OF THE IRISH COASTLINE.
 
Presentation of New Awards to Surfing Instructors:
Enniscrone Beach, Co Sligo, Weds Aug 12th 2009, 1pm.

The wonderful opportunities to enjoy Ireland’s waterways are too often tempered with news of tragic aquatic fatalities. Irish Water Safety has partnered with the Irish Surfing Association to proactively address the safety of Surfers nationwide.

Ireland boasts some of the finest surfing conditions in the World as witnessed in the recent documentary filmed in Ireland “Wave Riders”. With today’s launch of the new “Surf Instructor Beach Safety Award”, the growing number of Irish Surfers can look forward to a safer surfing environment.

Irish Water Safety and the Irish Surfing Association have partnered to develop this Award, bringing a very high standard of safety to Surfing Instruction.

Commenting at today’s presentation to the first recipients of the Surf Instructor Beach Safety Award at Enniscrone Beach, Co. Sligo, Minister of State Mr. Michael Finneran, T.D., commended Irish Water Safety and the Irish Surfing Association for coming together to develop the award structure. “This Award will help to reassure members of the public that the highest standards of training are available to those involved in surfing Instruction”, commented Minister Finneran.
“It is particularly important that a course such as this one is being made available when interest in surfing on the Irish coast is growing from strength to strength,” he added.

Participants for the award are assessed on practical abilities in water to ensure that they have the required level of fitness and skills in surf rescue techniques.  They are also tutored on all aspects of Surf Instructing including Water Safety, First Aid, Child Protection and dealing with the general public.

Media Enquiries:
Irish Water Safety, The Long Walk, Galway Tel:091-56.44.00 
John Leech: 087-6789600 / Roger Sweeney: 087-6789601
Email: info@iws.ie   Website: www.iws.ie

Media Notes:
Course outline:

The aim of the IWS Surf Instructor Beach Award is to bring a very high standard of safety to the teaching of Surfing as an activity and a sport. This award is a pre requisite of the surf instructor level 1 coaching award.

Objectives

To train and assess for competencies in: -
• Fitness, knowledge, judgment and self-discipline.
• Ability to teach, control and keep a class safe while in the water.
• Abilities to render first aid and work as a team member.
• To deal with your customers in a courteous and professional manner.

Specification:

Part A Land Practical – includes BLS (Basic Life Support)

Part B Pool Practical

Part C Open Water Practical

All sections should be completed within a four-month period. PARTS A and B must be successfully completed before training commences for PART C.

NOTE: Part C must be carried out on a beach. A beach is defined as an area of foreshore, open to the sea or ocean.

Test Items

Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3

Unit 1 – Land Practical

BLS 3 and two-operator CPR (theory and practice). An approved resuscitation manekin must be used.
A written test of 20 questions on First Aid with emphasis on Aquatic First Aid based on the IWS National Beach Lifeguard Manual and relevant to the sport of surfing.
A written test based on the IWS National Beach Lifeguard Manual which must include the following elements:
Log Books, Accident Reports and Public Relations re: club/school.
Communications with Lifeguards, the Public and Emergency Rescue Services.
Class planning, construction of lesson plans and communication within the class.
Knowledge of Patrol Area: Surf conditions, currents, beach topography, winds, tides, risk assessment, temperature and weather conditions.
Legal requirements (Duty of care with the class), health and safety personal responsibilities.
First Aid specific for Surf Instructor.
N.O.P. (Normal Operation Plan) for Surf Instructor.
E.A.P. (Emergency Action Plan) for Surf Instructor, to be attached to log book.
Child Protection.

Unit 2 – Pool Practical

To assess the candidates’ basic fitness, and rescue skills in a controlled environment prior to assessment in open water. Failure in this section prohibits progression to Section C.
300 metres timed swim (Time not more than 10 minutes).
Swim 50 metres Lifesaving Side Stroke and 50 metres Inverted Breaststroke.
Swim 50 metres to a conscious casualty and tow 50 metres, with fins and canbouy.
Swim 50 meters to a conscious casualty and carry cross-chest 50 metres.
Candidate will pick up three objects from the bottom of the pool. (Max. depth 2 metres). The objects will be 3 metres apart.
Demonstrate three releases and one evasive action as specified by the Examiner. Distance 10 metres.
Show ability to cope with two interlocked subjects in deep water.
Take a Rescue Tube or Can Buoy and swim to a floating casualty, who may be considered to be unconscious and not breathing. Demonstrate deep water supported E.A.R. and return 10 metres. Direct and land casualty with assistance from trained helpers, placing in recovery position.
Demonstrate ability to deal with a Spinal Injury Casualty as specified by the Examiner.

Unit 3 -Beach/Outdoor Pactical

Candidate will run 50 metres along the beach to waters edge carrying a Can Buoy or Rescue Tube and Fins. Swim to a marker 50 metres from waist depth and return to shoreline (Urgency requires)
The candidate will rescue conscious co-operative casualty 50 metres from waist deep water using a Can Buoy or Rescue Tube and Fins.
The candidate will perform a rescue on an unconscious casualty 100 metres from waist deep water, using a soft rescue board / surf board demonstrating EAR using the equipment to put casualty on board and returning to shore with the casualty.
The candidate will rescue three casualties; the condition and actions of each will be unrevealed. One casualty will be 15 metres from waist deep water and the remaining two will be within their respective depths. No casualty will be more than 50 metres from the water edge. The candidate will direct and carry out the rescues with the assistance of one other candidate with the use of rescue equipment. On completion, the candidate will explain the reasons for the actions they took and the directions that they gave to the second candidate.

REVALIDATION TO BE COMPLETED EVERY TWO YEARS

ENDS