Donation sees 200 Surf Lifeguards achieve first-aid qualification

Volunteer Surf Lifeguards in the Bay of Plenty will benefit from easier access to first-aid course training thanks to a $17,000 grant from Pub Charity.

Surf Lifeguards administered first-aid to 1,800 people last year with fifty-five per cent of the incidents lifeguards attend being non-water related. A figure that is up forty-two per cent from ten years ago.

“First-aid incidents are increasing and varied, with Surf Lifeguards often the first port-of-call for a diverse range of accidents on and off the beach,” said Grant Florence, Chief Executive of Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

“We work collaboratively alongside other emergency services such as Ambulance, Police and Fire Service and we receive constant praise on the high level of first-aid our lifeguards provide – it’s a very important part of what we do - but it comes with a cost,” continued Florence.

Omanu Beach volunteer surf lifeguard Allan Mundy estimates over 30 years of service he has responded to well over 1000 incidents both on patrol and via emergency callouts, with incidents ranging from bluebottle stings and shell cuts to serious road accidents, spinal injuries and dislocations.

“Surf Life Saving has over 15,000 members, and more than 1,000 completed specific first-aid programmes last year. Thanks to the support of Pub Charity a further 200 Lifeguards will obtain their first-aid qualification to benefit the Bay of Plenty region – a skill that ultimately saves lives in our community.” said Florence.