R&R Demonstration
November 4, 2018 –
Resuscitation skills are learned as part of the Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion training courses required to become a patrolling member. Knowledge of those resuscitation skills can form part of competition areas available to all members of the club including the nipper group. This year, all clubs are keen to improve participation in R&R events in the nipper group.
Despite having a large nipper membership on the northern beaches and one of the largest in the State, the participation rate for junior R&R teams has been dwindling for a number of seasons.
There are two different R&R events available for nippers –
- 2 Person – this is conducted in 3 separate age groupings – U10/U11, U12/13 & U14/15.
- 5 Person – there is one age grouping for this event - U12-U14.
Both events are mixed and so can be made of any combination of boys or girls.
The R&R competition in both 2 and 5 person events is based on the simulated rescue and resuscitation of an unconscious patient from the surf. The resuscitation skills learned to do the event are the same as those which are undertaken as part of the Surf Rescue Certificate and Bronze Medallion training courses. R&R provides an opportunity to not only learn important life saving resuscitation skills but also gives kids the opportunity to train and compete in a team.
You don’t need to be a good swimmer, board paddler or runner. You just need to be willing to spend some time learning the techniques required for the event, an ability to concentrate for the duration of the event (2 person about 10-15 mins, 5 person about 15-20 mins) and like having fun with team mates.
For those kids who also want to compete in other events at junior carnivals, this is still possible as the R&R events are conducted at the beginning of local carnivals prior to the commencement of the other events. State championships inevitably give rise to some clashes but in the past, for the most part R&R competitors have been able to meet their commitments to other events through arrangements made with sectional liaison officers.
What we’re after
Because of their age and the need to remember quite a number of movements, it would be preferable not to rely on the U10 age group. If however it means the difference between having a team or not, then by all means we would welcome involvement from that age group.
As it takes some time for the kids to learn what has to be done, it is important anyone wanting to have a go start training as soon as possible but no later than the middle of November. After that, it becomes increasingly difficult to get teams up to a competition standard, particularly when families may be unavailable over the Christmas holiday break. So it is crucial any would be competitors are identified as soon as possible – preferably before the season gets underway.
At the end of this email is a link to a training video for the 2 person event which shows how the event is run and explains what the competitors are required to do.
Contacts
If you think your child(ren) or others would be interested in doing R&R or you would like further information, there is a demonstration to be held of both events on Sunday the 4th November at 10.40am at Freshwater beach.
