The 8,000-odd volunteer surf lifeguards in the Northern Region spend their summers scanning the beach and rescuing over 1,000 people who come a-cropper each year in the surf: they need to be fit, healthy, strong swimmers – able to swim 400m in under nine minutes – and confident in the surf.
Between 20 and 50 new guards are trained each year at the Piha Surf Life Saving Club, many of whom, says Piha’s chief instructor Claire French, compete in surf sports as well as patrolling the beach.
Piha’s theory training covers the physical environment of the beach – rips, waves, surf – signals and communication, patrolling methods, victim identification, first aid and CPR.
Guards then get to splash about in a pool to practice their surf swimming skills, rescue techniques – using both tubes and IRBs (inflatable rubber boats) – and recovery position before hitting the real surf.
All this training is put to good use once summer rolls around: guards begin a typical day at the beach by identifying a safe swimming area and setting up the rescue equipment.
The rest of the day is spent patrolling the beach, watching for danger and administering first aid. Although hopefully not too often.
And aside from the buzz of saving lives and spending the summer at the beach, French reckons that surf lifesavers learn valuable teamwork and leadership skills.
“[It’s also] knowing that they are part of a unique group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They volunteer their time to protect the public from the many dangers faced when swimming at New Zealand beaches.”