Are surfers the unrecognised heroes of our beaches?

SURFING Victoria is taking applications for the second year of its Surfers Rescue 24/7 Research project, which will collect further data on the role surfers play in beach and water safety on Victoria’s coastline through rescues and interventions.

The study, administered by LaTrobe University’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact, has successfully run over the last 12 months, surveying 350 surfers on a monthly basis.

Over the next year, the study will run again with new participants and an updated monthly survey.

Surfing Victoria spokesman Liam Robertson said the program has so far been pivotal in understanding the role surfers play in water safety around Victoria.

“It’s made us understand that surfers do a lot of rescues that go unrecognised, particularly over the winter months and periods when there’s no lifesaving services,” Mr Robertson said.

“Surfers fill that gap when there’s no lifesaving services because it’s out of season or on unpatrolled beaches.”

Each month participants answer a simple survey via text reporting any rescues they have been involved in, how many times they have advised someone to not surf or swim in a particular location (an intervention) or any first aid they have performed whilst at the beach.

Over the last 12 months the study recorded 2000 preventative actions, 100 first aid treatments and 200 rescues.

Mr Robertson said the project had been extended by 12 months to build on these findings, particularly as Melburnians and international tourists return to Victorian beaches.

“The last 12 months has obviously been pretty different to a normal year because of COVID-19,” he said.

“There were quite a few months there when there was no tourism from Melbourne, let alone international tourism.

“So we want another year to understand the role that surfers play when there’s more people on the beaches all year.”

Mr Robertson said Surfing Victoria hopes the findings will highlight to surfers the important role they can play in water safety and encourage more people to train in board rescue skills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“We’ve found that although a lot of surfers are competent surfers, they may not have the skills to be able to rescue someone in a safe manner, so being part of the Surfers Rescue 24/7 program is something we’re pushing pretty hard at the moment,” he said.

Surfers Rescue 24/7 is a free Board Rescue and CPR course hosted regularly by Surfing Victoria through local Boardrider clubs, public sessions, surf schools and online training.

Senior research fellow at LaTrobe University’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Dr Alex Donaldson, said the monthly survey questions have been updated slightly from last year to provide further insight into how untrained and trained surfers engage with water safety differently.

“Surfers seem to be really, really interested in engaging with this project and providing data,” Dr Donaldson said.

“They’re coming forward to offer their experiences and I think there’s a genuine commitment and interest in the surfing community.

“It’s almost like they acknowledge that providing advice and support for other people who use the ocean is a key and fundamental part of being a member of the surfing community.”

The project is supported by Surfing Victoria, LaTrobe University, Emergency Management Victoria and the Victorian Government.

Each month, participants go in the draw to receive a number of prizes.

Surfers who are interested in registering to be part of the next round of the Surfers Rescue 24/7 Research Project can find out more at https://surfingvic.com/surfers-rescue-24-7/.