BRONZE MEDALLION COURSE ABOUT TO COMMENCE AT DIXON PARK SLSC
The next Bronze Medallion course at Dixon Park SLSC will commence with registration and induction at 6pm on Wednesday 2 October 2019 in the downstairs training room of the Dixon Park Surf Club.
The cost of the course is $250.00 inclusive of Club membership of $90.00. Payment will need to be made on the registration night so that you can be provided with materials. It is a prerequisite of the course that you be able to complete a 400m pool swim in under 9 minutes and be prepared to undertake Patrols at Dixon Park beach during the surf lifesaving season.
The course will include CPR, Advanced resuscitation, Spinal injury management, radio operators and first aid tuition with these elements being undertaken at the surf club on either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. The water elements include a run-swim-run (200m-200m-200m) in the surf, Rescue Tube rescue and a Rescue Board rescue. The water elements will be undertaken on Sunday mornings at 8am for approximately 1.5 hours per session subject to the conditions.
Please note that you will need to be available to attend the great majority of dry and wet sessions.
The assessment will be conducted during the course and will also involve a final “dry” assessment and a “wet” assessment to take place at Stockton beach.
Because the Hunter Branch Clubs are trialling a new method of training for the Bronze Medallion there may be some changes to the above, this will be known by the date of the registration day.
For further information please contact Stuart Barnett, Chief Training Officer at education@dixonparkslsc.com.au
Training in Surf Life Saving does not stop with the Bronze Medallion. There are many awards to be achieved, some of which include First Aid, Advanced Resuscitation, Radio Operator, Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Crewperson, and IRB Driver. Remember you do not have to be a competent swimmer to be a Surf Life Saver. You can still become a Surf Life Saver and Patrol your local beach without having to complete the Bronze Medallion if you would prefer to concentrate your efforts in other areas rather than swimming. Rescuing a person from the water can be one aspect of ensuring a person survives after a drowning experience, with the resuscitation or first aid on the beach also being essential for survival.
Membership
Anyone can become a surf lifesaver and there are many types of membership.
If you are aged between 5 & 13 you can join in surf lifesaving junior activities, or nippers. Nippers take part in surf awareness and beach related activities, and learn basic lifesaving skills as they get older.
By enrolling as an active member you can become a Patrolling Lifesaver. If you are over the age of 13 you can become a "Probationary" Patrolling Lifesaver by obtaining a Surf Rescue Certificate. If you are over the age of 15 you can become a Patrolling Lifesaver by obtaining your Bronze Medallion.
Older members can join as associates, or specialists in other areas like first aid, radio operation or instruction.
At Dixon Park we regularly train men and women, boys and girls, from their teens till well into their senior years. The important factor is not your age, but your attitude and commitment.
To obtain these awards, you'll need to be committed to putting in a few weeks worth of training, and learning new, and sometimes challenging skills.
Obtaining the Bronze Medallion is only the start. We encourage our Lifesavers to obtain further awards, which are readily available to make you a better Lifesaver. If this does not suit your lifestyle we encourage you to play a part in other aspects of the club, such as education and competition. All of these are available to club members for little or no cost.
Lifesaving awards are made available through the following training programs:
Surf Rescue Certificate
Probationary surf lifesavers can achieve this award from the age of 13 to help be prepared for active patrolling duties. The award trains candidates in rescue skills, first aid and patient management, resuscitation, plus a theoretical component exploring safety knowledge and surf awareness.
Bronze Medallion
This is the minimum requirement for a surf lifesaver. The holder of this award is over the age of 15 and has proved proficient in surf awareness, survival, patrol and rescue procedures, emergency care plus anatomy and physiology.
All members are required to complete a 400-metre swim in 9 minutes or less, in a swimming pool of no less than 25 metres or over a measured open water course. Once this competency is completed all clubs provide qualified instructors who will train you to the level of a proficient lifesaver. All you need to do is have the right attitude and commitment to training and anyone is capable of becoming a surf lifesaver.
At the completion of their training a candidate's physical and mental fitness is tested by a 200m run - 200m swim - 200m run, simulated rescues using a rescue board and tube, resuscitation techniques, radio procedures, signals and a patrol based scenario. All these skills combine to train candidates to be an effective member of a patrol team tasked with providing a safe beach and aquatic environment.
At the completion of the Surf Rescue & Bronze Medallion tests, Dixon Park will hold a special presentation ceremony with a BBQ and drinks where you will be awarded your uniform so you are ready to patrol our beach. You will be awarded with your Bronze Medallion after the completion of 3 patrols.