Our Lifeguard Patrols

Club volunteers are providing lifeguard patrols at Trevaunance Cove. The type and timing of patrols will depend on volunteer availability, we try to target our efforts at higher risk times.

These patrols save lives. If you can be a part of this effort, please consider doing so.

Trevaunance Cove Patrols

When are we doing this?

We’ve split every day into 2 shifts. You can book any shift you like but tide, surf, weather and human factors will mean that covering certain shifts are likely to have a greater impact than others. If you are flexible, please consider filling higher impact shifts first.

Patrol Rota – updated 10/10/2024 19:00

To register, please email your availability to: [email protected].
Please include a bit of info about your qualifications, experience and age so we can build a solid team.

Who can take part?

Surveillance Patrols
A surveillance patrol (Type 1) can be led by someone who has done the SLSGB Coastal Surveillance training or holds a current beach lifeguard award. The surveillance patrol is focussed on prevention and early recognition with appropriate escalation. A surveillance patrol does not establish a bathing area (red and yellow flags). Although a surveillance patrol can be done by an individual, having 2 or more people on patrol is much easier going and facilitates knowledge sharing.

Full Patrols
A full patrol (Type 4) requires a minimum of 2 qualified lifeguards, at least 1 person with the patrol captain award and at least 1 person with the RNLI Cas Care / SLSGB First Responder award. Patrol members also need to make an assessment of their capability and confidence in the conditions before establishing a bathing area. If in doubt, go surveillance!

Getting Qualified

The SLSGB surf lifeguard award is a (min) 35 hour course with swimming, running and lifting requirements. The club generally runs a course starting in June, anyone wishing to enrol should work on their pool swimming over the prior winter. book pool sessions

The SLSGB Coastal Surveillance Award is a knowledge-based award that can be attained in 1 or 2 evenings. It is also a great way to review the basics of beach safety that could help keep you and your family safe at the beach and improve your ability to recognise an emergency and confidence to respond in the best possible way.

Overview of SLSGB Coastal Surveillance Course

What will I be doing?

Before your shift…

  • Wear suitable clothes for the weather: don’t forget sunglasses and sunblock.
  • A waterproof watch is useful.
  • Bring a warm wetsuit + wetsuit boots or footwear that can get wet.
  • Speak to the patrol organiser to talk through the role.

Starting a shift…

  • Put the kettle on and have a chat! Talk about previous relevant experience and decide on the patrol type you are qualified and comfortable to deliver as a team.
  • Put on patrol uniform:
    On a surveillance (Type-1) patrol we simply use a hi-vis tabard.
    On a full (Type-4) patrol we use lifeguard uniform.
  • Grab the right kit to support your role: POCKET, BUCKET, BASE.
  • Phone the coastguard to register the patrol. The number is on the wall by the phone: “Hello this is St Agnes Surf Club. We are running a Type # patrol until 17:00”.

During a shift…

  • Ensure you are contactable by coastguard at all times: landline handset has quite good coverage but if you are happy using the VHF radio this has excellent coverage.
  • Put up signs / flags as appropriate.
  • MONITOR from a location where you can see what’s going on whilst maintaining communication.
  • ADVISE people politely if they are putting themselves or others at risk.
  • THINK AHEAD what might happen? what would I do? – see our Emergency Action Plans (EAP) for ideas.
  • ESCALATE any emergency or developing situation to the coastguard. Don’t hesitate to request help from our amazing local lifeboat and coastguard teams!
  • Record hourly stats on patrol log.

Ending a shift…

  • Complete the patrol log.
  • Phone coastguard to log out.
  • Ensure VHF radios are switched off and put on charge.
  • Check the club is locked up.

What if …

… someone is in difficulty?

Call the coastguard: phone 999 or use radio channel 16.
Stay calm, speak slowly and try to give information in an organised way (Position, Problem, People) rather than as a narrative.

ONLY IF you are qualified + capable in the conditions, then:
– Ensure communication with coastguard is maintained at all times.
– Assess risks and make a plan, put the safety of yourself, your team and the public above the safety of the patient. Remember that stabilising the situation or preparing for the arrival of other services can often be a better response than attempting a rescue.
– If risks can be controlled:
– Follow lifeguard SOPs / DR-help-ABCD.

… I try to help but people wont follow my advice?

A lifeguard does not have the authority to prevent someone going in the sea. We can only do our best to inform their decision making. The best way to achieve this is to stay calm and present the facts. It’s super important this is kept very neutral, don’t get yourself into a confrontation situation

Why are we doing this?

It’s much easier to control risks when working on a preventative basis than in the response phase of a rescue. Prevention and early intervention reduces the likelihood of an incident developing that might put our coastguard, lifeboat and ambulance crews in situations where risks are MUCH harder to control.

Further Reading

Our patrol documentation can be read in the shared folder, here:

We’re constantly looking to develop our patrol framework, so welcome feedback and new ideas.