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Volunteer surf patrols began last weekend at Ōrewa Beach and they are keeping their eyes on the numbers of beach goers, as well as on safety in and around the water.
Swimming between the yellow and red flags is the normal rule for beach goers to follow, but Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club chair Faron Turner says because those flags funnel people into a certain area, their use depends on the numbers allowed to gather.
If there are large numbers of people on the beach, socially distancing, the patrollers will still be there but the flags will not go out.
He says swimmers need to keep an eye on the clubhouse as the flags flying there indicate whether there are patrollers on duty, as well as current safety information (more information – see above).
While Faron says this is an additional layer of responsibility for lifeguards, they are committed to it – as they always are where the community’s safety is concerned.
It’s important to note that in an emergency, there is the option of calling 111 and asking for Police, who can task the lifeguards to respond via pagers.
Information is also on the Safeswim website, www.safeswim.org.nz/
