Sunday PM Patrol - 13th March 2022

Published: March 15, 2022 Last Updated: March 15, 2022

Patrol Captain Report - Sunday PM, 13th March 2022

It may be lucky for some, but Sunday 13th of March for Patrol 13 was anything but - and a testing day.

The afternoon patrol started out easily enough with Aamie C putting everyone at ease and getting a team photo for the upcoming Annual Report. Our regular IRB driver John W was away and his position on the team was being filled by our rower extraordinaire Jessie B, with experienced crewie Logan P. Jessie had missed previous patrols due to her carnival commitments, and I thought the challenging but manageable surf was ideal for her to gain experience in the IRB. She was encouraged to take the boat out, and with Logan helping, gain valuable experience. They did well negotiating the conditions and I was very pleased with Jessie's control of the craft.

Their expeirence was made even trickier by the near by competing board riders entering the water inside the B&W flags.  (The IRB Patrol launch and recovery area were set up by the morning Patrol and considering the sweep were in the correct position).

The afternoon progressed with tremendous sandwiches provided by our kitchen and a mostly pleasant Sunday afternoon.

At approximately 3.00 pm, a representative from Branch arrived to do the Club's 4th and final inspection of the year. Ken C found the waters edge quickly and I was looking for somewhere to hide, but away we went with the inspection. After some preliminary questions we were tasked with answering 30 questions similar to the skills maintenance test. Paul and Ian N, Diana O, Jessie B, and Tom P combined to answer the questions with the result 27 out of 30. Jessie then had to describe how she would perform a rescue with a board very successfully. Diana O and Tom P then performed a resus with the manikin. This was also to the Inspectors 100% endorsement. While the resus was taking place I took the opportunity to check everything was ok in our gear shed and first aid room,  which was to be the last port of call for the inspection. With Anthony W's help I made the back up IRB ready for service (fuel bag was not attached) and double checked duplicate flags etc. This part of the inspection went very successfully and I was advised we had lost 7 points overall. Three for the wrong answers, two for not having spare bum bags in the arena and two for not doing the 1.00pm stats (my bad). All in all, a fair assessment.

Soon after we had a visit from the police, who were acting on a report from the morning patrol of a person taking unauthorised photos of ladies on the beach. This was seeral hours after the report and there was no complainant or photographer to be seen. The alleged incident took place at the most southern end of our beach.

Could anything else happen on our watch?...

At approximately 16.15 Betina T was patrolling at the water's edge and called for immediate assistance to a young lady who had dislocated her knee. The girl, who was in tremendous pain, was assisted by our team to dry sand and made comfortable by Diana O and Betina T, and assisted by other members of our team. Pillows and other comforts were brought from the FA room to make the patient as comfortable as possible until the ambulance arrived - less than 20 minutes later. With the help of the "green whistle" the paramedic was able to click the knee back into place and the patient was transported to Nambour hospital for further tests and observation.

While this was happening we are fortunate to have our radio/observers Karen H and Leigh D keeping an eye on the swimmers, with ever reliable Ken C continung to patrol the water's edge.

I have nothing but admiration for my whole Patrol team for the way they all performed their duties on this Sunday 13th.

Special thanks for subs Karolin B, and super sub Logan P for their efforts on the day.

-David Cush