Surf Coach Safety/Surf Coach Rescue
What does a Surf Coach Safety/Surf Coach Rescue course teach you?
These 2 courses are split into different levels depending on fitness levels, both giving a different remit for conditions.
Both courses are specifically designed for surf instructors.
The units covered on these courses are the following….
Aquatic Safety Management for a Surf Coach
Working Practices for a Surf Coach Lifesaver
The Beach & Surf Environment
Basic Life Support
Level 1 First Aid
Paediatric Life Support
Level 2 First Aid
Coach safety and rescue techniques
Tube Rescuer
Casualty rescue and care techniques operating in an aquatic environment
Course itinerary example…
9:00 - Meet at the Surf School, introduction, answer questions and brief for the day.
9:30 - Wetsuits on, head down to Great Western Beach.
Warm up, stretching (usually involving different games/activities).
Learn lifeguard skills.
Rescue scenarios - In pairs, casualty swims out and gets rescued, switch roles, both with and without rescue equipment.
Board practice - In pairs get used to paddling rescue boards and catching waves.
12:00 - Finish water session, lunch break. (Hang wetsuits in dry room so you have a dry suit to put on the next day!)
13:00 - Classroom session - Beach Environment (learn about rips, waves, tides and all environmental factors)
15:00 - Break
15:30 - Basic life support. Theory and practical.
17:30 - Finish for the day
Fitness requirements
Being a Surf Coach requires good levels of fitness.
During the course you will be challenged to get the best out of your potential, within safe parameters.
There is plenty of running, swimming and paddling rescue boards throughout the course, always supervised by a highly experienced and qualified coach.
Coaches will only challenge your fitness levels within reason.
If you are comfortable swimming and paddling boards in waves up to 2ft, and running at a slow jog for a couple of minutes then you’d have no problems joining one of our courses!
The only actual fitness tests are as followed…
Surf Coach Safety
200m pool swim in under 5 minutes.
- 200m Run, 100m Swim, 200m Run (not timed)
Surf Coach Rescue
- 400m pool swim in under 8 minutes.
- 200m Run, 100m Swim, 200m Run (not timed)
Remits…
Surf Coach Safety - Limited water safety to assist and run surf lessons only, in no deeper than wading depth.
Surf Coach Rescue - Limited only to cover surf lessons, in conditions deemed suitable for participants in low risk environments. eg; Smaller, clean waves.