LIFESAVING clubs across the province have been issued with an an ERP- Emergency Response Pack. The pack, which is a sealed sterile first responder pack for medical emergencies allow lifeguards to carry out CPR and attend to trauma cases with full personal protection.
The protection will be in accordance with Covid-19 regulations. While no announcement has been made on the resumption of lifesaving activities, the Umhlanga Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club is already sensitizing its members towards the new regulations and safety protocols.
Club captain and Covid-19 safety compliance officer, Mike Rodda, explained the new regulations required some getting used to.
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“It is definitely a new way of thinking and engaging with the community. I do feel however that the right decisions have been adopted to protect club members and those using the beach. Most importantly we feel the regulations should be adapted in a practical way. With the emergency response packs, our duty members are being trained on new protocols especially when saving someone from the ocean.
“The resuscitation packs all have masks, goggles, face shields and a suit which members will have to wear when attending to someone or administering CPR. It will be more strenuous for our members and more time consuming but it is part of the training we are undertaking. At the end of the day we have to protect beachgoers and our club members,” he said.
Rodda said training was continuing with regards to saving bathers and also with regards to training.
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“We’ve had to change and adapt the clubhouse because of the pandemic. We’ve cordoned off showers and certain areas within the clubhouse to protect people. We will adjust our preparation work once an announcement is made on swimming and bathing,” Rodda said.
Lifesaving South Africa, which is the controlling body of surf and stillwater lifesaving in the country, has made the necessary applications to the minister of sports to reopen lifesaving clubs which would be carried out under the strictest of compliance. At the time of going to print, no pronouncement had been made on lifesaving activities.
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