Focus on safe summer for coast beaches

A safe summer on Gold Coast beaches will be a priority for City lifeguards this holiday season.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates said the combination of school holidays and warm weather would draw bumper crowds to beaches - and the City was ready. 

“We are preparing for an influx of visitors and residents and will extend patrol times and employ more casual lifeguards to help patrol our beaches,” she said. 

“We pride ourselves on employing the largest professional lifeguard service in Australia, with close to 40 permanent staff and up to 140 seasonal staff. 

“We bolstered our casual lifeguard numbers by 20 per cent in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games so we have an even larger pool of fully-trained lifeguards to draw on this summer.”

Acting Chief Lifeguard Chris Maynard said extended patrol times for summer would allow beachgoers to enjoy our beaches for longer.

“City lifeguards will now patrol beaches from 7.30am to 6.30pm throughout the summer period, starting this Saturday until the end of January,” he said.

“The extended times will ensure beachgoers can swim safely for longer under our watchful eye.”

Mr Maynard said it was important beachgoers remained vigilant and stayed between the flags.

“Unpredictable weather has caused dangerous conditions with strong easterly swells,” he said. 

In the past year, the City’s Lifeguard Service performed 1300 rescues, prevented more than 43,000 potential ocean incidents and provided first aid to 6000 people.

Beach safety tips:  

• ALWAYS swim between the red and yellow flags.

• ALWAYS listen to advice from lifeguards and lifesavers.

• If you find yourself in difficulty while swimming, DO NOT panic. Raise one arm in the air to signal for assistance.

• NEVER swim at night.  

Remember, if our lifeguards and lifesavers can’t see you, they can’t save you.