Coastal Water Rescue
I only learnt about these guys after the tragic drowning at Pipe recently. I'd noticed a number of emergency vehicles fly past that weren't municipal and wondered who the additional rescue services were. A bit of investigation revealed they're the dedicated volunteers from the East Cape Coastal Water Rescue. So I chatted to John Fletcher, their rescue co-ordinator to find out a bit more about them.
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Q: Tell us a bit about Coastal Water Rescue – what exactly do you guys do?
A: The East Cape Coastal Water Rescue Squad (formally known as Surf Rescue) was formed 33 years ago as a voluntary organization to respond to drowning incidents (sea surf zones, rivers, dams and swimming pools) in and around the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. We also assist the emergency services during times of severe flooding.
Q: Are you part of the municipal rescue team – or an independent organization?
A: We are an independent Non Profit Organization made up of volunteers. We do however sit on the Metro Emergency Services Committee which is a disaster management committee consisting of all private, public, municipal and governmental services involved with safety and security in the municipality.
Q: So if you’re all volunteers, are you made up mainly of lifeguards? Can anyone join or do you have to have a specific skill set – like being a lifeguard or a doctor or something?
A: The squad is made up of members who are classed as rescue swimmers as well as a backup members who bring a different skill set to enhance our rescue capabilities i.e. medics, land/boat crew, SAP members, etc.
None of our members are full time rescue personnel – we are 100% volunteer. All our members have secular jobs, mostly not related to rescue. Some of us are students, builders, architects, accountants, lawyers etc. We all come from different walks of life with the same aim and that is to save lives and make a difference.
Even though we hold secular jobs, all our members have training and experience at either life saving and/or medical/rescue. Most of our rescue swimmers come from lifesaving backgrounds but it isn’t a requirement as long as the person wanting to join as a strong swimmer and is willing to go for the necessary training.
A big requirement is that each member of the squad must have a passion for water (be it the sea, rivers or other water source) as well as helping others in distress.
Q: Are there any particular disciplines that you’re looking for volunteers in?
A: In order to offer a quality service that is professional, efficient and effective, we prefer prospective members to either have life saving experience or some other skill that can be utilised by the squad. A non negotiable requirement is that all must have extreme dedication towards saving lives and total discipline.
Prospective members wishing to join would normally send in a CV detailing their experience and qualifications and the squad management committee would determine if this type of skilled person is required.
Anyone with sea experience, be it surfing, boating, life saving etc. would be most welcome to apply to the squad for a rescue swimmer position. People with other skills such as medics, experienced surf skippers, rescue personnel etc. are also welcome to apply.
Q: How does it work – is one of the team always on call? When an emergency happens, how do you coordinate everyone, and do you also liaise with the municipal emergency services?
A: Our entire squad is on standby 365 days a year/24hrs per day. Whilst not all our members can be available all the time, we ensure that we have enough to activate on a 24/7 basis.
We work very close with the other emergency services such as SAPS, NSRI, beach lifeguards etc. We have standard operating procedures that detail the procedure to follow when a call is received. Such calls mostly come from the SA police emergency control centre or 10111, via other emergency services i.e. Beach Office, NSRI, live saving clubs, etc. or from the general public.
When a call is received, a decision is made as to how many of our members we want to activate (dependent on the type of call). Activation is done via “sms” and/or by phone call by either the rescue coordinator and/or the operations coordinator. This “sms” is also sent to the authorities in the beach office and other related rescue services and is followed up with a direct phone call.
On scenes, we work in conjunction with other emergency services -ALL with a common purpose – saving a life.
Q: What sort of emergencies do you respond too – basically anything that’s in the water? Do you have access to boats and ski’s – or would your operation be land-based only?
A: Generally we get called for a drowning in progress or persons/ boats in distress, either in the surf lines, swartkops river, dams, swimming pools etc. Even though we do not possess motorised water craft, we sometimes have access to jet ski’s and rubber ducks from other life saving clubs as well as to the SAP helicopter if required. We are currently looking for a sponsor for our own jet ski.
We also work very well with the municipal lifeguards who have their own crafts on standby.
Motorised water craft have been proven to be an effective tool in saving lives and we see as necessary not only for this purpose but also as a safety backup for our rescue swimmers.
Q: Are members of the public allowed to call you guys directly if they see an emergency – or should they rather call the municipal services first? How’s it work?
A: Port Elizabeth Emergency Services committee has decided that 10111 is the best number to call as they are operating on a 24/7 basis and their operators have all the required emergency service contact numbers on their desks. Even though utilising this number is not the quickest method of activating the squad, it is probably the most convenient one. Direct calls to our squad will speed up our activation and as such we will not curtail anyone from directly phoning us.
Q: If they can call you direct – can you please give us your emergency number, then guys can store it on their phones as 10111 has been known to be a problem (eish....)
A: We do have an emergency number - 082 990 7620. However you can also phone me directly if you so require (082 612 7840).
Q: Given you guys are volunteers, what sort of items would you need sponsorship for? Maybe there’re some readers out there that could help.
A: I’m glad you asked this we are currently the only Non Profit Rescue organisation in the metropole that does not have any sponsors. We are currently busy with marketing strategies to try to attract much needed funds for rescue equipment.
For the squad to effectively function the following equipment is required to be purchased, upgraded and/or replaced. Utilizing standardized high graded professional equipment is paramount to team safety. Currently the squad members purchase or obtain some of this equipment (derivatives) at their own expense/effort.
· Top Grade Wetsuits (summer/ winter)
· Professional Rescue Helmets
· Professional Masks, Snorkels, Knives & Fins
· Rescue Tubes (wrap around type)
· High Grade Throw Lines and Neoprene gloves
· Portable and vehicle Radios
· Top quality all Weather Jackets / Clothing
· Clothing (jumpsuits, vests, caps, etc.)
· Effective Equipment Requirements
· Water Proof torches' and helmet lights
· Water Proof 2 Way Radios
· Professional Climbing Ropes and Harnesses
· Waterproof Binoculars (sea graded)
· Correct Footwear for Sand and Rocks
· Top Graded Inflatable life perseveres
· Emergency decals / Lights / Sirens for private vehicles
Q: Anything else you want to add John?
If anyone wants to know more about us they are welcome to look at our Face book page under ‘Coastal Water Rescue’ or they can either call our squad Operations Coordinator Kim Barley on Tel 082 657 0710 or the squad Rescue Coordinator (myself) on 082 612 7840.
I also really encourage surfers and other sea lovers that if they see us to come chat to us. It’s always great chatting with lifeguards, surfers, paddlers etc. We all share the sea and where we can save a life let’s do so together and make a difference.
Thank you so much for this opportunity to be able to promote our squad and educate the community on how we operate.
A: The East Cape Coastal Water Rescue Squad (formally known as Surf Rescue) was formed 33 years ago as a voluntary organization to respond to drowning incidents (sea surf zones, rivers, dams and swimming pools) in and around the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. We also assist the emergency services during times of severe flooding.
Q: Are you part of the municipal rescue team – or an independent organization?
A: We are an independent Non Profit Organization made up of volunteers. We do however sit on the Metro Emergency Services Committee which is a disaster management committee consisting of all private, public, municipal and governmental services involved with safety and security in the municipality.
Q: So if you’re all volunteers, are you made up mainly of lifeguards? Can anyone join or do you have to have a specific skill set – like being a lifeguard or a doctor or something?
A: The squad is made up of members who are classed as rescue swimmers as well as a backup members who bring a different skill set to enhance our rescue capabilities i.e. medics, land/boat crew, SAP members, etc.
None of our members are full time rescue personnel – we are 100% volunteer. All our members have secular jobs, mostly not related to rescue. Some of us are students, builders, architects, accountants, lawyers etc. We all come from different walks of life with the same aim and that is to save lives and make a difference.
Even though we hold secular jobs, all our members have training and experience at either life saving and/or medical/rescue. Most of our rescue swimmers come from lifesaving backgrounds but it isn’t a requirement as long as the person wanting to join as a strong swimmer and is willing to go for the necessary training.
A big requirement is that each member of the squad must have a passion for water (be it the sea, rivers or other water source) as well as helping others in distress.
Q: Are there any particular disciplines that you’re looking for volunteers in?
A: In order to offer a quality service that is professional, efficient and effective, we prefer prospective members to either have life saving experience or some other skill that can be utilised by the squad. A non negotiable requirement is that all must have extreme dedication towards saving lives and total discipline.
Prospective members wishing to join would normally send in a CV detailing their experience and qualifications and the squad management committee would determine if this type of skilled person is required.
Anyone with sea experience, be it surfing, boating, life saving etc. would be most welcome to apply to the squad for a rescue swimmer position. People with other skills such as medics, experienced surf skippers, rescue personnel etc. are also welcome to apply.
Q: How does it work – is one of the team always on call? When an emergency happens, how do you coordinate everyone, and do you also liaise with the municipal emergency services?
A: Our entire squad is on standby 365 days a year/24hrs per day. Whilst not all our members can be available all the time, we ensure that we have enough to activate on a 24/7 basis.
We work very close with the other emergency services such as SAPS, NSRI, beach lifeguards etc. We have standard operating procedures that detail the procedure to follow when a call is received. Such calls mostly come from the SA police emergency control centre or 10111, via other emergency services i.e. Beach Office, NSRI, live saving clubs, etc. or from the general public.
When a call is received, a decision is made as to how many of our members we want to activate (dependent on the type of call). Activation is done via “sms” and/or by phone call by either the rescue coordinator and/or the operations coordinator. This “sms” is also sent to the authorities in the beach office and other related rescue services and is followed up with a direct phone call.
On scenes, we work in conjunction with other emergency services -ALL with a common purpose – saving a life.
Q: What sort of emergencies do you respond too – basically anything that’s in the water? Do you have access to boats and ski’s – or would your operation be land-based only?
A: Generally we get called for a drowning in progress or persons/ boats in distress, either in the surf lines, swartkops river, dams, swimming pools etc. Even though we do not possess motorised water craft, we sometimes have access to jet ski’s and rubber ducks from other life saving clubs as well as to the SAP helicopter if required. We are currently looking for a sponsor for our own jet ski.
We also work very well with the municipal lifeguards who have their own crafts on standby.
Motorised water craft have been proven to be an effective tool in saving lives and we see as necessary not only for this purpose but also as a safety backup for our rescue swimmers.
Q: Are members of the public allowed to call you guys directly if they see an emergency – or should they rather call the municipal services first? How’s it work?
A: Port Elizabeth Emergency Services committee has decided that 10111 is the best number to call as they are operating on a 24/7 basis and their operators have all the required emergency service contact numbers on their desks. Even though utilising this number is not the quickest method of activating the squad, it is probably the most convenient one. Direct calls to our squad will speed up our activation and as such we will not curtail anyone from directly phoning us.
Q: If they can call you direct – can you please give us your emergency number, then guys can store it on their phones as 10111 has been known to be a problem (eish....)
A: We do have an emergency number - 082 990 7620. However you can also phone me directly if you so require (082 612 7840).
Q: Given you guys are volunteers, what sort of items would you need sponsorship for? Maybe there’re some readers out there that could help.
A: I’m glad you asked this we are currently the only Non Profit Rescue organisation in the metropole that does not have any sponsors. We are currently busy with marketing strategies to try to attract much needed funds for rescue equipment.
For the squad to effectively function the following equipment is required to be purchased, upgraded and/or replaced. Utilizing standardized high graded professional equipment is paramount to team safety. Currently the squad members purchase or obtain some of this equipment (derivatives) at their own expense/effort.
· Top Grade Wetsuits (summer/ winter)
· Professional Rescue Helmets
· Professional Masks, Snorkels, Knives & Fins
· Rescue Tubes (wrap around type)
· High Grade Throw Lines and Neoprene gloves
· Portable and vehicle Radios
· Top quality all Weather Jackets / Clothing
· Clothing (jumpsuits, vests, caps, etc.)
· Effective Equipment Requirements
· Water Proof torches' and helmet lights
· Water Proof 2 Way Radios
· Professional Climbing Ropes and Harnesses
· Waterproof Binoculars (sea graded)
· Correct Footwear for Sand and Rocks
· Top Graded Inflatable life perseveres
· Emergency decals / Lights / Sirens for private vehicles
Q: Anything else you want to add John?
If anyone wants to know more about us they are welcome to look at our Face book page under ‘Coastal Water Rescue’ or they can either call our squad Operations Coordinator Kim Barley on Tel 082 657 0710 or the squad Rescue Coordinator (myself) on 082 612 7840.
I also really encourage surfers and other sea lovers that if they see us to come chat to us. It’s always great chatting with lifeguards, surfers, paddlers etc. We all share the sea and where we can save a life let’s do so together and make a difference.
Thank you so much for this opportunity to be able to promote our squad and educate the community on how we operate.
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So there you have it ou's....store those numbers in your cell phones, cos you never know when you might need them. And if anyone can help out with some sponsorship, then shoot John an email here.
