Swimming is fundamental to surf lifesaving!

Swimming is part of surf safety, education and surf sports disciplines including: Ironman and Ironwoman, the Cameron, Taplin, Rescue Tube Rescue and Surf Belt races.

During the season, the Club Swim is held every Saturday at 4pm in front of the club. The Club Swim is a timed, handicapped event of approximately 600 metres and is open to all registered club members.

To take part in the Club Swim, register on the beach on Saturdays at 3:45pm. A fluro pick vest is compulsory – no vest, no swim!

  • The Club Swim will be conducted when the beach is open for swimming.
  •  The Club Swim will require a number of water safety people – SRC or Bronze accredited.
  • The club adheres to the Water Safety policy stipulated by SLS Australia (scroll down this page for more details).

Pool Rescue Championships

Pool rescue championships are a great opportunity for lifesavers to test their skills in various rescue scenarios and races in the pool. Pool lifesaving age categories start at U12 and continue all the way through the masters. Events include line throw, 50m fins, manikin tows, obstacle race and relays. See below for more details about each event.

State and National events will be held in July 2018.

  • SLSSA Pool Rescue Championships are conducted at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre, Marion.
  • SLSA National Pool Rescue Championships are held annually at a venue to be announced.

Pool Rescue Championship events

Line Throw – a timed event where the competitor throws an unweighted line to a team member in the pool and then pulls him/her 12 metres back to the poolside.

The Simulated Emergency Response Competition – this event involves teams of four lifesavers reacting to a simulated emergency scenario within a two minute time limit. Teams receive points based on their performance in the scenario.

50 metre Manikin – a competitor swims freestyle for 25 metres then dives to recover a submerged manikin and then carries it to the finish edge of the pool.

100 metre Manikin Carry – a competitor swims 50 metres freestyle wearing swim fins to recover a submerged manikin located at the 50 metre mark. The manikin is then carried back to the pool edge to finish.

4×50 metre Medley Relay – a team event involving four legs; 50 metre freestyle without fins, 50 metre freestyle with fins, 50 metre freestyle towing a rescue tube without fins and then 50 metre freestyle with fins towing a team member to the finish edge of the pool.

4×25 metre Manikin Relay – relay of four competitors each swimming 25 metres while carrying a manikin.

200 metre Super Lifesaver – a competitor swims 75 metres freestyle to recover a submerged manikin, and then continues carrying the manikin to the turning edge. The manikin is released, fins are put on and the competitor tows a rescue tube 50 metres. At the pool turning edge, the rescue tube is placed around a floating manikin who is towed to the finish end of the pool.

100 metre Rescue Medley – this event involves swimming 50 metres in freestyle, turning and swimming underwater (20 metres for men and 15 metres for women) to a submerged manikin. After recovering the manikin it is carried to the finish edge of the pool.

200 metre Obstacle Swim – this event consist of swimming freestyle for a total of 200 metres passing under eight immersed obstacles.

100 metre Obstacle relay – this event consists of swimming freestyle for 100 metres passing under four immersed obstacles.

4×50 metre Obstacle – team event of four competitors swimming 50 metres freestyle each, passing under two immersed obstacles.

100 metre Manikin Tow – a competitor swims 50 metres freestyle with fins towing a rescue tube. At the tuning edge of the pool the rescue tube is placed around a floating manikin and is towed back 50 metres to the finish line.

100 metre Manikin Carry – after a 50 metre freestyle swim with fins, competitors dive to recover a submerged manikin and swim back to the finish carrying the manikin

Pool lifesaving competition event rules and regulations: https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/15498/Section-4-Pool-Lifesaving-Competition-Event-Rules-and-Regulations-Dec15.pdf

 

The key principles of the Water Safety policy are listed below: 

  1. Water safety is to be provided for all SLS aquatic activities.
  2. Each activity is to have an appointed water safety supervisor (a leader in the group to oversee safety of all participants)
  3. Where an activity is undertaken consistently at a single location, a thorough risk assessment maybe undertaken at a point in time, and then re‐used and adjusted according to the risks presenting at the actual time of training.
  4. All swimmers must stop and aid assistance to anyone who may be in trouble.
  5. Follow standard operating procedures relating to use of rescue equipment, uniforms and beach patrols. SLS risk assessment provides that the ratio of swimmers to water cover is: 20+. This means there should be a 1:20 ratio of Water Safety Officers (one of these must hold an IRB Driver or crew person qualification) and a 1:20 ratio of Rescue Boards for Water Safety.