Bronze Medallion
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Pre-requestites
  • Be a minimum of 15 years of age on the date of examination.
  • Have completed a 400 metre swim in nine minutes or less, in n a swimming pool of not less than 25 metres or over a measured open water course before any water training commences.
Learning Outcomes
Describe beach sense practices.
  • List common sun disorders, specifically; sun stroke, skin cancer, hyperthermia.
  • List sun safety preventative measures for patrolling surf lifesavers.
  • List drugs which effect a beachgoers ability to recreate 'safely'.
Describe surfing and environmental conditions and hazards.
  • List 3 types of waves, specifically, spilling, dumping, surging.
  • Recognise and describe differing surf zone currents specifically; rips, gutters, littoral currents.
  • Describe methods of escaping from a rip, specifically; strong swimmer, poor swimmer.
  • Describe common physical and biological hazards on the coast specifically; marine stingers & rock platforms.

Recognise an appropriate safe beach and surf bathing zone in key locations.
  • Identify beach types.
  • Assess wave type and height.
  • Assess prevailing weather conditions.
  • Identify beach safety rating and select safe beach zone.
Identify basic patient management techniques.
  • Perform checks to identify potential danger to self, patient and bystanders, specifically; preventative actions for communicable diseases.
  • Recognise and manage external bleeding injuries.
  • Recognise and manage patient shock.
  • Recognise and manage patients suffering minor burns, specifically; sunburn.
  • Recognise and manage patients suffering soft tissue injuries, specifically; rest, ice, compression, elevation.
  • Perform an airway management assessment, specifically; danger response, airway, breathing, circulation.
Perform basic patient management techniques.
  • Recognise and sort patients into management categories.
  • Recognise and manage patients with hypothermia/hyperthermia.
  • Recognise and manage marine envenomation injuries.
  • Recognise and manage patient with chest pains.
  • Recognise and manage patients with fractures.
  • Recognise and manage patients with spinal injuries.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic anatomy and physiology.
  • Maintain effective documentation.
Perform basic resuscitation techniques.
  • Perform a priority injury management assessment of a patient.
  • Place a patient in recovery position.
  • Perform a patient rollover.
  • Open airway by attaining a backward head tilt.
  • Perform 5 full breaths in 10 seconds.
  • Detail breathing rate differences for adult, child, infant.
  • Perform mouth to mouth/nose/mask expired air resuscitation technique/s.
Perform resuscitation (CPR) techniques.
  • Detail the systems of the body, specifically; muscular-skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, nervous.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of when to commence CPR, and flow chart procedures for CPR.
  • Detail CPR rate differences for adult, child, and infant.
  • Perform 1 and 2 person CPR techniques.
  • Perform oxygen aided resuscitation technique.
  • Demonstrate and describe patient management procedures after CPR.
Perform radio communication practices utilising approved SLSA radios.
  • Describe the operational network of the SLSA radio system.
  • Demonstrate basic transmitting and receiving procedures and call signs.
  • Detail search and rescue emergency procedures.
  • Detail pre-patrol and after post checks.
  • Detail routine maintenance of waterproof IRB and hand held radios.
  • Detail emergency maintenance and procedures in the event of radio being submerged in water.
Perform surf skills
  • Complete a 200m run, 200m swim, 200m run within 8 minutes.
Perform SLSA signals
  • Display a knowledge of SLSA signals.
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of actions to be undertaken on receipt of signals.
Identify persons in distress in a surfing or aquatic environ.
  • Describe the signs of drowning, specifically; climbing the ladder, poor flotation, face down, arms waving.
  • List common rescues, and rescue sites/conditions, experienced by lifesavers.
  • Describe various conditions of persons who need assistance, specifically; anxious, panic, calm, shock.
Perform patient approaches, support and escapes aided by equipment on unconscious/conscious patients.
  • Perform a swim, negotiating the surf, using fins plus a rescue tube.
  • Paddle a board, negotiating the surf, using an SLSA rescue board.
  • Swim with a rescue tube and paddle a board to a person in distress in a safe aquatic environ and return to shore.
  • Assess the patients distress level.
  • Secure and support the patient using the rescue equipment.
  • Perform front and rear release and escape methods.
  • Perform leg and arm blocks.
  • Signal the shore using recognised SLSA signals.
  • Return patient safely to shore.
Perform patient retrieval and support unaided by equipment.
  • Perform patient tows, specifically tired swimmer, armpit, wrist tows.
  • Perform a spinal carry.
  • Perform a stinger drag.
  • Perform an IRB carry.
  • Perform a three person carry.
  • Perform a two person seat.
  • Perform stretcher carry effectively.
Describe the purpose of patrols and patrolling.
  • List reasons for patrols and patrolling by surf clubs.
  • Describe the roles of lifesavers and lifeguards.
  • Describe beach user trends and activities at one local beach.
Demonstrate a knowledge of patrols
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of equipment required for patrolling purposes.
  • Demonstrate an ability to set up a patrol base and check equipment.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of public relation principles.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of patrol methods.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of scanning procedures and methods.
  • Display a knowledge of Australian Standard signage commonly used at aquatic venues.
Identify and demonstrate effects of all factors which impact on bathers and aquatic recreators.
  • List 5 possible dangers at the beach.
  • List emergency response actions to counter these dangers.
  • Perform a simulated patrol rescue.
Assessment
Satisfy competence in all learning outcomes by:
  • Written/oral examination.
  • Basic Skill Performance.
  • Rescue Scenario simulation.
For this award to remain current candidates are required to perform an annual proficiency test.