As Surf Life Saving patrols being on Saturday, South Coast clubs are ready to watch over our beaches again while tacking the challenges COVID-19 presents.
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Surf Life Saving NSW was prepared before the state government announced its COVID Safe Summer strategy and had developed a policy on how clubs could resume safely.
SLSNSW South Coast Branch president Steve Jones said volunteers would be advising regularly of the social distancing requirements through PA addresses on the beach.
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"It is not our role or intent to become involved in any verbal disagreements with patrons on the beach," Mr Jones said.
"If there are difficulties on the beach with people not keeping social distancing our patrol captains are informed to report by phone or radio and request the attendance of council rangers or NSW police."
With some activities, such as a rescue, it can be hard to maintain social distancing. Members have masks for CPR with non-return valves and will use gloves and masks when required to touch people for first aid.
Mr Jones said whilst most members were keen to return, they had done their best to ensure volunteers and the community felt safe.
"We did a bit of a survey in August about our members returning," he said.
"In the South Coast Branch we had 964 patrolling members, the results of our survey indicated 81 per cent of our paroling members will be returning to lifesaving duties over the summer period.
"Each club has a COVID-19 coordinator, they have a COVID-19 plan, they have been recently issued with PPE and hand sanitiser and they will be adopting safe approaches in regards to the public."
The Surf Life Saving season is due to begin on Saturday, September 26 when volunteers will be on the beach patrolling.