Summary
Sunday (12 January)
there was a medical incident at Long Bay which Paid Lifeguards responded to. Lifeguards were alerted to a young male who
had collapsed at the northern end of Long Bay. Lifeguards responded with a First Aid Bag and Oxygen kit. On scene they
were informed that an Ambulance had been called and the patient was stable but cold, Lifeguards proceeded to warm up the
patient with a thermal foil blanket. Ambulance later left with the patient in stable condition.
There was also a mass rescue at Piha beach involving six patients.
Monday (13 January)
Yesterday there was a Major First Aid at Bethells Beach, a 20 year old male had extreme back pain after coming out of
the surf. He was complaining of extreme pain in his limbs, neck and back. Lifeguards assisted him with transportation
back to the Surf Club, where they assessed that his pain was too extreme to self-transport with family. Lifeguards
organised for an Ambulance to come and collect the patient who left in a stable condition.
A lifeguard performed a mass rescue of three swimmers at Piha (South). The swimmers were swept off their feet by a large
swell and sucked into a hole south of the flags. The patients were supported briefly by a surfer, until the lifeguards
reached them with a tube and returned all three patients back to shore.
There was also a rescue at North United Piha where a large swell swept a woman off her feet and then she was ‘sucked’
out to sea. The lifeguard by the flags responded at direction of the tower and performed a tube rescue.
Weekend Statistics (11/01/2020 – 12/01/2020)
No. of people rescued16No. of people assisted16No. of major 1st aids2No. of minor 1st aids21No. of searches5No. of PA's650No. of Public Involved4,359Peak headcount21,839Total hours worked2,771
Monday Statistics (13/01/2020)
No. of people rescued4No. of people assisted0No. of major 1st aids1No. of minor 1st aids5No. of searches0No. of PA's284 No. of Public Involved894Peak headcount3,438Total hours worked636.5
Key:
Rescue: When lifeguards save someone from drowning.
PA: Preventative Actions e.g. lifeguards giving people safety instructions e.g. advising to swim between the
flags/advising to move away from a rip etc.
Assists: Early intervention by lifeguards to prevent member of public from getting into major difficulty.
Public Involved: Number of people lifeguards interacted with.
2019-2020 Beach Safety Messages
1. Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the flags
2. Ask a lifeguard for advice
3. Don't overestimate your ability
4. Keep young children within arm’s reach at all times
5. Never swim or surf alone
6. Watch out for rip currents, they can carry you away from shore
7. When fishing from rocks, always wear a lifejacket
8. If in doubt, stay out!
9. If you see someone in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police
10. Be sun smart – Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap.