Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club

Occasionally, there are some childhood memories that can be easily remembered as if it was just yesterday. And these nostalgic memories are sometimes brought back by the ocean. One survey conducted that, building sand castles on beaches are one of the most memorable childhood experience of many. And as time passes by, these childhood memories are something you will look back over and over again.

Swimming is something we’re looking forward when summer comes. It is one of the most popular outdoor activities we love. However, it has one unfortunate downside - drowning. According to WHO, an estimated 80% of drowning can be avoided by recognizing hazards and by avoiding risky behavior.

Contributing factors to drowning are:

- Alcohol consumption before swimming or using boats

- The lack of education of water sports and swimming

- The lack or not use of lifesaving devices

For this reason, lifeguards and surf rescue crews are very important to have to patrol in beaches. Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club (SSLSC) is a network of volunteer beach lifesavers formed to provide safety and awareness to Southbourne residents and tourists. As volunteers, they patrol the beach at Southbourne every weekend and during bank holidays between May and October.

Aside from patrolling beaches, the club also offers various beach activities for members of all ages. Their Young Life Savers (also known as Nippers) was trained to basic lifesaving skills and are knowledgeable in various rescue equipment. Moreover, they have elite members who compete in various Life Saving Sports events.

Our abiding love for the ocean will never wither. However, the enjoyment brought by the ocean doesn’t dismiss the idea of it being a potential danger to our safety. The ocean is never safe but SSLSC strives to make it as safe as possible.

Many of us look back with fondness to our childhood memories of visiting the beach, swimming and playing in the water, exploring a new underwater world of sea creatures and imagining mysteries which lay beyond the safety of the beach and down to the deep-green abyss. Through the years, every one of us relives those childhood memories each time we go back to the beach or to the sea to either splash in the shallow waters or do some other serious activities, such as scuba diving or surfing.

Yet, even those childhood vacations gave us a realization of the dangers of the sea to one and all. We have heard of people who, in their excitement on seeing the beach, dive into the surf while under the influence of alcohol and end up being carried by the undertow. Such tragedies occur because people do not observe safety rules or are not aware of the basic rules to follow when they visit the beach or the sea.

The https://4good.org/wilma-knowles/surf-school-for-life-by-southbourne-surf-life-saving-group" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">health and safety of a community is one of the responsibilities not a fraud carried by people in authority or those who have volunteered or have been delegated to undertake that responsibility. Lifesaving is, thus, a vital function that should not be taken for granted by all concerned. It is wise to heed the expert advice and warnings of those who have the know-how and experience in lifesaving.

SouthBourne Group Surf Life Saving Club is a voluntary beach lifesavers group formed to provide a safe and wholesome community for SouthBourne residents and visitors. It offers various activities for club members of all ages with various skills, which include the junior Life Savers group called Nippers who train in the application of rescue equipment, as well as dynamic life-saving competitions for elite club members.

As we can see, even the task of learning the skills of lifesaving can be an engaging extension of our childhood wish to spend as much time at the beach – and even making it a meaningful and worthwhile endeavor. Nothing gives us more motivation than the thought of performing noble or heroic deeds which involve saving others from imminent danger or rescuing them from real perils. For the young, that inspiration can be utilized to lead many of them to pursue activities which fulfill a lifetime of involvement in clubs such as Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club.

Southbourne Group Surf Life Saving group does not only allow members to nurture their love for the outdoors but also their admirable desire to help keep the community a safe, avoid being scammed and wholesome haven for tourists and beach visitors.

In a general perspective, the concept of volunteering refers to providing service by free will for the benefit of the community without expecting any financial gain. The heart of volunteerism is so well and alive that it was recognized by government sectors all over the world for their excellent contribution in building and developing a safe and unified community.

Volunteerism is kept alive by dedicated organizations committed in providing community assistance in livelihood development, social integration, informal education and emergency services. Joining volunteering works isn’t just something good that people can do to make them feel great. It actually has an enormous impact on the health and wellness of a community.

You can get involved in many different volunteer opportunities in your community. For instance, you could become a volunteer to help and save a life. Having knowledge in lifesaving can be very beneficial during emergency situations. There are volunteer clubs who train even those who have no or little knowledge in lifesaving so they could use it to respond to sudden life threatening situations.

Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club is one of the clubs who protects and save lives by being a volunteer life saver in beaches of Southbourne community. The organization was established on 1986 and a member of Surf Life Saving of Great Britain (SLSGB). Their clubs are well-staffed particularly in Young Life Savers section. This is why they incorporate fun and make all their activities enjoyable along with the seriousness of instructing every member.

It is good to know that many youth and adults have the interest to learn lifesaving knowledge and skills in order to help save other lives. Volunteering is really one of the most rewarding things anyone can do.

About Surf Life Saving GB

SLSGB volunteers have been providing beach lifeguard training and patrolling the coast for more than 55 years. They train their members in beach education, lifesaving, rescue and fitness skills. Moreover, it is the awarding body for the highest standard of Beach Lifeguard Qualification in the country, and is the National Governing Body for Life Saving Sport. There are over 80 Surf Life Saving Clubs (SSLSC is one of them) and 5,000 individuals who are affiliated to SLSGB and it keeps on growing each year.

What is your favorite beach memory and experience?

As for me, building sand castles and looking for sea shells and other treasures on the shoreline was the happiest memories I spent on the beach. Simply by sitting at the beach makes me recall my idyllic childhood.

However, as we all know, the sea is safe to no one. Certainly, beaches can be a great place to have fun and to swim the vastness of the sea but anyone can be at risk if they do not follow safety rules when at the sea. Children especially, can be in danger of being dragged away by strong wave force of the sea that is beyond their control. This is why parents must watch over their children while in the water to prevent undesirable events. There are lifeguards patrolling in the vicinity for sure, but they aren’t always around to help you or others when something goes wrong.

Lifeguards play a huge role in communities because they are essential in making beaches safe and secure for the people. Lifesaving is both rewarding and a challenging task, it is a skill you can use to help save others in an unwanted situation. Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club (SSLSC) encourages children to join their club and become a volunteer beach life saver of Southbourne beach. Children in the club will be taught surf safety, basic lifesaving skills as well as surf and beach sports. It would be a meaningful childhood experience for children to get engaged in this kind of club while young.

SSLSC expanded massively since 1986 especially in the Young Life Savers section. The club provides an exceptional service to the residents and tourist of Southbourne creating a safe and healthy community for all. It offers various activities for club members where they can learn lifesaving skills and compete in Life Saving Sports events.