By Ron Lane
On Friday evening at 6 pm eleven volunteer life savers from Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach and Peregian clubs attended a meeting as members of the Emergency Response Group, otherwise known as the ERG. Just who, you may ask, are these people and what do they do?
As members of the ERG it is their job to respond 24/7 to emergency callouts within their local coastal regions. With many of these occurring in the dead of night regardless of weather conditions, it is definitely not a job for the faint hearted.
Essential requirements for this team are dedication, training in all aspects of IRB (inflatable Rescue Boats) operation, the wave runner jet rescue skis and radio communication, plus knowledge of surf and local areas. Above all is the ability to work and respond as a member of a team under any conditions; including of course, the dead of night.
When call outs occur members can find themselves working with police, ambulance, fire and rescue personal. This emphasizes the importance of communication and a clear understanding of what lies ahead. It all starts when those in need call OOO and from there the relevant teams are notified.
To keep the group fully updated meeting chairman Steve Crisp, supplied all with the After Hours & Night Operations Standard Manual. During discussions heavy emphases was placed on the importance of RESPONSE TIME; the time taken from leaving their place of residence to the launching of the necessary rescue craft. Systems and availability of all rescue equipment must at all times be kept in readiness to ensure that the response times are kept to the minimum; for as in all life threatening situations — time is of the essence.
To ensure that our local regions are covered David James of Noosa surf club is the Night Operations Duty Officer, with local team leaders being Joe Cirillo for Noosa, Scott Summers Sunshine Beach and Roger Aspinall Peregian.
For the young lifesavers and lifeguards thinking of becoming part of the Emergency Response Group, it all starts with them serving as members of a normal daytime IRB patrol roster; gaining not only the necessary experience but above all the self-confidence necessary to respond to any situation regardless of the weather. Finally, membership of the ERG will come about as an invitation extended to them by a senior veteran member of the group.
With the core business of the Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs being the protection of human life, the existence, training and support of such groups cannot be emphasized enough.
