Life Saving – 2021/22 Skills Maintenance

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With the patrol season underway, it is time for our patrolling members to ensure that they are current and competent in their life saving awards. After a change of format last year due to COVID restrictions, this year we return to a much more hands-on skills maintenance process. Please note carefully this year’s Skills Maintenance requirements and, in particular, the dates for the dry practical components.

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All Skills Maintenance activities must be completed by 31 December.  If you are not proficient after that date you will be unable to patrol or compete in surf sports events until you regain your proficiency. If you have any questions about, or difficulties completing your 2021/22 Skills Maintenance, please contact our Lifesaving Manager, Susan Fairbrother, at sfairbrother@bigpond.com.au or at 0407901943.

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Skills Maintenance Timeline

 

Online Theory

Patrol members should complete their online theory as soon as possible. Online theory is completed via the SLS Members Area – members.sls.com.au

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Dry Practical Components

Patrol Members will be assessed whilst on patrol by your captain or assessor on the day. The practical sessions which will cover CPR, Advanced Resuscitation, Tourniquets and walk-up spinal management.

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Wet Practical Components

All wet practical components (RSR, rescue, spinal management and IRB Crew) will be completed during patrol hours.

You can complete the wet components of your skills maintenance on your patrol or join an assessment on another patrol.

 

IRB Driver

All IRB Drivers are required to be assessed by an endorsed IRB assessor.

All current IRB Drivers will need to come to the beach on a date that either Graeme, Darcy or Mani are rostered for patrol.

 

Bronze Medallion / SRC

Online Theory Component

 

Members will need to watch a video and then answer questions relating to the content in the video. (approx. 10 minutes).

Members are required to complete the skills maintenance theory component online as assessment marking and record keeping is automated and reduces the burden placed upon SLS trainers and assessors. 

The online course has already been bulk assigned to members with existing SLS Members Area accounts.

If you are unable to access your online Skills Maintenance theory, or are unable to complete this component online, please contact Suzanne for assistance.

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Practical Components

 

Resuscitation (CPR)

• A primary assessment (DRSAB–) on a live victim including the demonstration of the lateral position (this may be completed on a manikin if COVID-19 social distancing requirements are in place).

• Primary assessment (DRSABCD), CPR 1 and 2 person (adult or child AND infant) on an approved manikin – to include resuscitation methods using a resuscitation mask or face shield and AED. (individually issued face shields are preferred for the 2021/22 season with COVID-19, if using masks special cleaning procedures need to be followed).

• Team CPR scenario including primary assessment (DRSABCD) – to include resuscitation methods using a resuscitation mask or face shield and AED.

 

Run-Swim-Run (timed)

• SRC—Unaided: 100 m Run-100 m Swim-100 m Run in 5 minutes or less

• BM—Unaided: 200 m Run-200 m Swim-200 m Run in 8 minutes or less

• The run distance to be taken from waist deep water, e.g., the run is from a flag, around a marker and to waist deep water, the aquatic components are from waist deep water around two swimming buoys and back to waist deep water.

• Swim leg must be around two swimming buoys

 

Rescue

Demonstrate a minimum of one rescue of a victim, SLSA strongly encourages that this is of an unconscious victim, using either a rescue tube (and swim fins if available) or a rescue board and according to SLSA operating procedures in the current SLSA Public Safety and Aquatic Rescue training manual.

The rescue must include the following:

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• Negotiating the surf zone

• Securing the victim

• Returning to shore with the victim

• Calling for assistance

• Two person carry or drag

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Bronze Medallion (BM) Only

 

The following requirements are new content as a result of the changes to the Bronze Medallion award for the 2021/22 season (35th edition). It is necessary for all active surf lifesavers to be upskilled in this new content. Some members may have completed these requirements last season.

 

Tourniquets

• Management of life threatening haemorrhage by applying arterial tourniquet(s).

 

Spinal Management

The upskill session will include familarisation of the following through demonstration and practice:

• Provide spinal care for a ‘walk up victim’ on land.

• Trapezius grip for stabilisation of the neck and maintenance of the airway on land

• Extended-arm roll for stabilisation of the neck and maintenance of the airway in shallow water

• Log-rolls to remove a victim from a spinal board or respond in the event of regurgitation

• Spinal board extrication, including securing victim to board

 

Resuscitation

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• A primary assessment (DRSAB–) on a live victim including the demonstration of the lateral position (this may be completed on a manikin if COVID-19 social distancing requirements are in place).

• Primary assessment (DRSABCD), CPR 1 and 2 person (adult or child AND infant) on an approved manikin – to include resuscitation methods using a resuscitation mask or face shield and AED. (individually issued face shields are preferred for the 2021/22 season with COVID-19, if using masks special cleaning procedures need to be followed).

• Team CPR scenario including primary assessment (DRSABCD) – to include resuscitation methods using a resuscitation mask or face shield and AED.

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Advanced Resuscitation Techniques

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Resuscitation (CPR)

• A member is considered to be proficient in this component of the ARTC Skills Maintenance if they have successfully completed the BM and SRC Skills Maintenance Resuscitation (CPR) component.

• Members still need to be assessed as competent in sections 2-4 below to be deemed proficient in the SLSA Advanced Resuscitation Techniques Certificate.

 

Advanced Resuscitation

• Team CPR scenario including primary assessment (DRSABCD) – to include resuscitation methods using a resuscitation mask or face shield, AED and oxygen supplement (oxygen cylinder connected to bag-valve-mask resuscitator on an unconscious victim. (individually issued face shields are preferred for the 2021/22 season with COVID-19, if using masks special cleaning procedures need to be followed).

 

Oropharyngeal Airways

• Correct measurement and insertion of an oropharyngeal (OP) airway

• Demonstrate an understanding of when and why an OP airway is introduced into resuscitation.

 

Bag-valve-mask resuscitator

• Correct use of bag valve mask resuscitator

 

IRB Crew

 

Demonstrate effective and safe crewing practice and ability including:

• Parallel running

• Figures of eight

• Response to signals

• Negotiation of surf as required

• Demonstrate victim rescue

• Demonstrate ability to carry out a victim lift, exit, carry and lay.

 

Silver Medallion IRB Driver

 

Demonstrate the ability to apply safe driving practice including but not limited to:

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• Parallel running

• Figures of eight

• Response to signals

• Negotiation of surf as required

• Demonstrate ability to conduct a victim rescue

• Demonstrate ability to carry out a victim lift, exit, carry and lay.

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