Sea-Doo celebrates 10 years of lifesaving support
Sea-Doo’s support of surf lifesaving has helped prevent more than 125,000 drownings, the number showSea-Doo has revealed it has supplied about 300 of its jet skis to surf lifesaving groups throughout Australia as it notches up a 10-year association with the services.
The Canadian recreational power equipment brand, which has also supplied lifesaving clubs with around 40 Evinrude two-stroke outboard engines, has had a hand in volunteers rescuing more than 125,000 people over the decade.
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Combine the Sea-Doo jet skis and Evinrude outboard engines with Can-Am Defender side-by-sides used to help transport patients from the beach and BRP’s total investment in lifesaving over that time has amounted to a $4.8 million investment across 290 beaches.
“BRP products are engineered to be the most capable, reliable and high performing, allowing surf lifesavers to move around the beach and water quickly and effectively,” Sea-Doo’s owner said in a statement.
“This means patrols and rescues can be performed safely with greater efficiency and faster response times in the most challenging of situations, which is best-suited for the high standards Surf Life Saving Australia expect.”
Delighted with relationship
Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said the group was “delighted” with the long relationship with BRP.
“As an organisation, SLSA aims to form and maintain long-term partnerships and we are very proud to be celebrating our 10th year partnering with BRP,” Weir said.
“The innovative technology BRP provides to the movement as a result of this partnership means that surf lifesavers are equipped with capable, reliable and high-performing lifesaving equipment allowing them to respond rapidly and effectively across the challenging Australian coastline to protect and save lives”.
BRP said this summer would see its products clock up to 118,000 hours on the water and 141,000km on the sand.
Extra lifesaving resources
Beachgoers on the Sunshine Coast will benefit from more lifesaving resources dedicated to 11 sites in the region as part of a $230,000 initiative, Surf Life Saving Queensland and Sunshine Coast Council said.
The changes include:
- An extra lifeguard employed during the two weeks prior to the Christmas school holidays at Coolum, Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba and Kings Beach
- An increase to two lifeguards at all times the beach is patrolled at Yaroomba and Boardwalk
- An extra lifeguard from September to May, shared amongst Marcoola, Discovery, Twin Waters and Mudjimba; and
- An increased lifeguard service to achieve a 365-day patrol at Discovery Beach
- SLSQ chief lifeguard Greg Cahill said the extra lifeguard services would ensure the safety of the growing numbers of people who visited the region’s beaches every year.
“The Sunshine Coast region’s beaches are some of the best in Australia, if not the world, and we are committed to the provision of a proactive lifeguard service to ensure the protection of those who visit them,” Cahill said.
“SLSQ’s professional lifeguard service arm, the Australian Lifeguard Service Queensland, employs 29 full-time and part-time lifeguards, three supervisors, and around 80 casual lifeguards on the Sunshine Coast.
“Staff are all dedicated to saving lives across the 20 beaches that they service in the region.”
Saving lives
Last season, SLSQ lifeguards assisted 200,429 people, gave first aid to another 15,045, and saved the lives of 436 people in the water.
Royal Life Saving Australia reported last month that 276 people drowned in Australia over the 2019-20 financial year, including 64 in Queensland – down 12 per cent compared with the previous year.
The statistics show 125 drownings occurred at beaches.
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