Commonwealth Festival of Life Saving 2019

RLSSA is pleased to confirm participation in the Commonwealth Festival of Life Saving 2019 in Leeds (UK). The event is being held on 21 to 23 November 2019. RLSSA is seeking nominations for:

• Team Manager and Assistant Manager
• Team Coach and Assistant Coach
• Athlete

Position descriptions and nomination from can be obtained form this link.

Nomination open: 19 July 2019
Nomination close: 12 August 2019

Please note:

• You must hold a current RLSS Bronze Medallion and CPR Certificate
• You must be a current member of RLSSQ (or a verified member of an affiliated club)
• If you are over 18, you must hold a current Blue Card (which is linked to RLSSQ)
• You must advise the Queensland Sport Coordinator if you are applying for any role and provide a copy of the application to us for verification and endorsement

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RLSS Sport Hub

RLSSA has released a sports hub, which is a new online sports portal for all things pool life saving. The hub provides current and prospective pool lifesaving volunteers, coaches, athletes, officials, and facilitators with the knowledge, resources and network to continue their journey in swimming and lifesaving whether that be in the pool, on pool deck, in the community or abroad.

Browse the Sport Hub to find out more about the unique and dynamic sport of pool lifesaving and how you can get involved.

Click here for the RLSS Sports Hub

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Staff Member Brianna Thompson completes double crossing of English Channel

After swimming for 22 hours Royal Life Saving staff member has successfully completed her double crossing of the English Channel.

Brianna, who is 17 years old, has previously swum the English in 2018, has completed her double crossing on 10 July 2019 in 22 hours and 37 minutes.

Royal Life Saving would like to congratulate Brianna on her amazing swim.

Media contact: Kate Forrester telephone 0406 059 803.

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Membership Renewal

Membership renewal with Royal Life Saving is now due. If you are an existing member, please download a Membership Renewal Form and send it to us.

Competency Based Trainers will also need to complete a new Trainers Agreement for 2019-20.

New members: To apply for membership please use the Membership Application Form.

If you wish to be a trainer with us, please download this information sheet.

Members of Queensland Lifeguard League, please complete a Queensland Lifeguard League Membership Form.

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Pool Lifeguard Re-accreditation Course

Its time to book your Pool Lifeguard re-accreditation. All Pool Lifeguard re-accreditation's successfully completed with us include HLTAID001 provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Have a look at the link below for a course convenient to you, or we can come to your facility to run tailored courses that are designed around your facility and the skills of your staff.

Royal Life Saving Queensland in the oldest life saving society in Queensland and the aquatic industry peak body.

Click here to register or enquire

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GoodSAM®

GoodSAM is the world's most advanced emergency alerting and dispatching platform. GoodSAM is set up to work with ambulance and pre-hospital services to enable qualified bystanders to provide life saving care in emergencies. The app enables those with a Royal Life Saving First Aid certificate to register on the app and help the community. GoodSAM is also the world's largest public AED Registry, and have also launched the world’s first mobile AED tracking system.

The app allows alerters to dial the emergency services, and at the same time notify nearby qualified responders (including those with a First Aid certificate) of a medical emergency. By alerting responders of an emergency, GoodSAM connects those in need with those who have the skills to provide critical help before the emergency services arrive.

Royal Life Saving Queensland is the first Queensland organisation to register with GoodSAM. Holders of a current Royal Life Saving Queensland First Aid certificate are able to register as a responder on the app.

Please consider downloading the app and registering as an Alerter or Responder. Click here for more information.

View the map of responders

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Alcohol and Drowning

Download our latest research information here.

New research reveals about as many as one‐in‐six people who swim in rivers is under the influence of alcohol. A study conducted by RLSS and James Cook University surveyed locals and tourists at four river locations (one in Queensland). Researchers used a breathalyser to gauge if people were swimming under the influence of alcohol. A total of 684 people were surveyed and breathalysed across 16 days at the four research sites. Amy Peden (National Manager of Research and Policy) said the study found 16 percent (1 in 6) of swimmers recorded a positive blood alcohol content (BAC) and seven percent were over the legal driving limit.

Media Release - One in Six.

In the past decade, 1,995 men have drowned. Men are four times more likely to drown than women, with males accounting for 80% of all drowning deaths. A culture of risk taking behaviour among men can be dangerous around water, and when combined with alcohol and/or drugs it is often fatal.

Almost a quarter (24%) of male drowning deaths involved alcohol alone. Of the men who had been drinking and subsequently drowned, 67% would have failed a random breath test with a recorded a blood alcohol content above 0.05%.

Tips For Looking Out For Your Mates:

1. Stand up to your mates if they suggest swimming or taking out a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol. "Woah, easy there. Where do you think you're going? Not in your state mate."
2. Suggest alternative activities away from the water when under the influence of drugs or alcohol
3. Challenge your mates to a round of ping pong, watch your favourite sport on the tele, or take a good ol' nap.
4. Enjoying the water before any drugs alcohol consumed
5. Not leaving them alone if they’re under the influence around water

KEY FACTS

Download our factsheet here.

• 1,995 men aged 15 years and over have fatally drowned between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2017
• 464 cases were known to involve alcohol (24%)
• 436 cases were known to involve drugs (22%)
• 726 cases were known to involve alcohol and/or drugs (37%)
• Men aged 25-34 account for 19% of all male drowning deaths.
• 46% of men aged 25-34 years who drowned were known to involve alcohol and/or drugs (166 deaths out of 361)
• 47% of male drowning deaths in rivers, creeks and streams were known to involve alcohol and/or drugs (261 deaths out of 556)

More Information

• National Drowning Report 2017
• National Drowning Report 2017, Queensland Extract

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Swim & Survive

Is your school registered for the Swim and Survive program? Did you know the Swim and Survive program is essentially free of charge?

We provide partners free lesson plans, certificates and support to deliver the swim and survive program. Your school can register to deliver the swim and survive program here. You can also get free resources here.

Swim and Survive FREE workshops

You can register for the workshop or express interest in future workshops here.

Click here to register/enquire

Have more questions, why not contact us.

The Swim and Survive Program is proudly supported by the Queensland State Government

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