Strong Start to Surf Lifesaving Season

17 Oct 2013 1:45 PMMichael Hart

Strong Start to Surf Lifesaving Season

Member for Burleigh Michael Hart MP welcomes the start of the patrol season for Surf Lifesaving Queensland commencing from 8:00am tomorrow, 21 September 2013.

“As an active Surf Lifesaver myself I will be on the first patrol of the season and every fortnight until the middle of April,” Mr Hart said.

“With the start of the season I am very pleased to see patrol hours have increased at Tallebudgera Creek and urge everyone to swim between the flags.”

Mr Hart convened discussions between both Royal Surf Life Saving and Surf Life Saving Queensland to discuss practical opportunities to increase coverage of patrol hours at Tallebudgera Creek, a known safety hot spot.

“Surf Lifesavers do a selfless job to protect our family, friends, tourists and locals while they soak up the Gold Coast sun,” he said.

Mr Hart would like to applaud the efforts of Surf Lifesavers and wishes them the best of luck for the season.

[ENDS] 21 September 2013

Contact: Burleigh EO 5526 6024

2012/13 Statistics

• From Port Douglas to Coolangatta,  SLSQ has a total membership of 31,103 volunteers and during the 2012/13 Patrol Season, 8,550 patrolling members performed 336,011 patrol hours, 8,464 first aid treatments and 101,797 preventative actions, and saved 2,381 lives.
• On the Gold Coast during the 2012/13 patrol season, 3,907 volunteer surf lifesavers saved 904 lives, performed 43,659 preventative actions and 4,091 first aid treatments.
• During the 2012-13 patrol season, 58 Brisbane Lifesaving Service volunteer surf lifesavers performed 105 preventative actions and 16 first aid treatments, and saved 35 lives.
• Queensland’s 250 Australian Lifeguard Service Queensland Lifeguards performed 457,114 preventative actions and 16,893 first aid treatments, and saved 1,267 lives.
• All up – 3,648 lives saved – that’s friends and loved ones who may not have gone back to their families – 558,911 preventative actions and 25,357 first aid treatments – a reflection of the extent and magnitude of services that these volunteer surf lifesavers and Australian Lifeguard Service Queensland Lifeguards provide and well up on the 2011/12 season.
• Sometimes the battle is not won.  Queensland saw eight lives lost during the 2012/13 patrol season, all were swimming outside the red and yellow flags and all were male. Five of these were on the Gold Coast and one of these was at Tallebudgera Ck.