Added: 12/21/2007 |
Life Saving - a competitive sport and a commendable vocation.Exquisite beaches and exotic waters can be life-threatening at times. Life savers are the ones who make the experience of visiting and lavishing in the giant tides an enjoyable one. They guard the beach lovers to indulge themselves in the alluring waters and they save lives selflessly.
Life saving developed as a safety measure to counter the dangers of water.
Life saving developed as a safety measure to counter the dangers of water. In Marseille, France, the first international lifesaving conference was hosted in the year1878. The International Organisation, Federation Internationale de Sauvetage Aquatique (FIS) was founded in the year 1910 and the members of this organization were from Europe like Denmark, France, Britain, Ireland and Italy etc.
The Royal Life Saving Society created to integrate British and Irish Lifesaving and Lifeguarding clubs in 1891, spread its operations to Canada and Australia, in the year 1894. In 1971, World Life Saving (WLS), an international organization was founded by Australia, Newzealand, South Africa, USA and Great Britain. In 1993, International Life Saving Federation was formed as a consequence of a merger by FIS and WLS. Its headquarters was in Leuven, Belgium.
Lifesaving is now a reputed occupation and Sport. Another variant of Lifesaving is ‘Surf Lifesaving’. Surf Lifesaving originated in Australia but has expanded to countries like South Africa and New Zealand. Surf lifesaving adopts various surf rescue techniques using Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB).Though lifesaving is prominent in areas that have beaches, landlocked countries are also active members of the International Life Saving Federation.
Lifesavers are volunteers, who are trained in lifesaving methods, first aid, etc. They patrol beaches and supervise the crowd that comes to the beaches from clubhouses near the beaches. They also train the children and teach them safety tips. Life saving is for public safety and the lifesavers execute their duty by creating awareness among the general crowd on the safety measures, first aid and rescue services.
A Bronze Medallion or a Surf Rescue Certificate and a pass in an annual proficiency test are essential to be a Surf lifesaver. The lifesavers patrol the beaches in uniform and Support operations lifesavers also wear appropriate outfits and accessories like Wetsuits (Rescue Water Craft drivers and Jet and Offshore rescue boat crew), high visibility tabards (duty officers). Necessary aviation equipment is used by Lifesaver helicopter services for effective lifesaving. Every Surf Lifesaving club member wears a competition cap with distinct colors and patterns during competitions and training. Lifesaving team demarcates the patrolled area with flags and the beach lovers are expected to swim between the flags. The beachgoers, who ride on ‘surf crafts’ are asked to remain outside the flags.
Lifesaving is also a competitive sport. The sport evolved from the training activities of the lifesavers. Various volunteer lifesaving clubs join together and organize the competitions. There are events for children and professional lifesavers. Surf lifesaving clubs organize carnivals; where in the clubs compete among themselves in various beach and rescue-oriented events. The young lifesaving teams called ‘nippers’ hold similar sporting events. The events include swimming, sand running, mock rescues on surf boats, board riding, paddling. Individual events include Ironman, Surfboat, First Aid competition, Beach sprints, etc.
Life saving has been vital in bringing down the number of cases of deaths due to drowning in beaches. Lifesaving is also a sport that kindles the adventurous spirit in everyone. Lifesaving, a noble vocation is essential to safeguard the lives of individuals from dangerous water surfaces.
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