A training session in trauma and bleeding control training was held at North Avoca on November 9, with surfers, bodyboarders, club officials, surf instructors and coaches taking part.
Funded by the NSW Government’s DPI Shark Management Plan, Surfers Rescue 24/7 provided vital training by TacMed Australia Military Medics.
Surfers Rescue 24/7 is a government funded program led by Surfing NSW with a strong mission that offers surfers across NSW with free crucial training courses to assist in an emergency situation and the skills that could save lives in a variety of scenarios, including shark attacks.
Barely a day goes by on the Coast where a surfer is not in the water or scanning the waves from the sand.
Surfers Rescue 24/7 offers members of the community specific courses in CPR, first aid, shark attack and trauma training to upskill those who are in many instances the first responders to serious incidents.
The three-hour Trauma Training course is a specific and detailed overview of “bleeding control” in an aquatic environment, designed to arm surfers and ocean users with lifesaving skills.
Surfing NSW’s Head of Programs and Community, Matt Lawson, said TacMed Australia Military Medics leverage training based off their real world experience within Special Operations in both military and civilian settings around the world.
“These practical skills are designed to be applied in real life situations that are taught on the beach using state of the art simulated equipment and mock scenarios,” he said.
The Trauma Training course places participants in high-pressure real-life scenarios.
As Australia heads into the warmer months and school holidays, Central Coast beaches will see a huge increase in numbers with the chances of incidents also increasing.
Just two months ago, a 16-year-old boy was attacked by a great white shark at Avoca Beach with thankfully minor injuries.
Source:
Media release, Nov 9
Surfing NSW