Southbourne Surf Life Saving Group

Doctors, police officers and firefighters are regarded as some of the most meaningful and vital jobs in our society for the reason that they have the opportunity to protect and save a life. But when it comes to saving lives, we often overlook the worth of a lifesavers’ job. Many people are under the impression that lifeguarding was nothing more than a young well-tanned muscular body with a convenient job of patrolling the sea with shades and lemonade at hand. But their role in the society isn’t as easy and smooth as what you thought it would be.

Lifesavers make thousands of rescues every year, running and diving into the water to pull people out of danger and save their lives. As for me, they are the heroes of the sea. What is more astounding about these people is that many of them are volunteer lifesavers who allot their free time to protect and save people who get into difficulties at the sea.

A volunteer lifesaver club hut at the bottom of St. Catherine’s path near the seaside eatery – Bistro on the Beach have gained recognition for their activities that contributes to the betterment of Southbourne community. Southbourne Surf Life Saving Club is a group of volunteer lifesavers established to provide safety and awareness for the residents and tourists of Southbourne.

They provide various activities for the members of all ages. Most of their members are composed of youths who are interested in lifesaving education. They accept trainees starting at the age of seven where they will be under the Nippers program of the club. Ages twelve to sixteen on the other hand, are entitled to compete in Surf Life Saving Competitions. Their training is more intensive than the Nippers program and requires more in-depth in readiness for beach patrolling when they reach fourteen. Ages 16 and above are encouraged to work towards the Beach Lifeguard award required for the employment as a professional beach lifeguard in the UK and abroad.

Lifesavers really do have an amazing job because they get a chance to spend their day wandering the vastness of the sea. But as we all know, their job isn’t a typical dream job that many would want. There’s a seriousness and responsibility hang on their shoulders.

Life on the beach is like a child's box of marbles. It come as a result of the fascination to collect as many of those tiny pleasurable toys although they are all of one shape but of different sizes and colors. In like manner, we all want to “collect” as many visits to the beach as we can even though the water is essentially the same everywhere in the world though the sand or pebbles may differ in size and color.

It may not be that hard to explain the attraction we feel for the outdoors, especially the wide open sea. After all, our bodies, as well as the whole surface of our planet, are made up of over 70% water. Do we simply long to go back to the comfort of our Paradise prior to our birth – that is, our mother’s watery womb? Perhaps.

Not surprisingly, we can see why many people live much of their lives sailing on the sea or living by the shore and making a living out of the sea’s bounties. Because of this, a big percentage of the human population is attached to the sea and its vast blessings. And since the sea can be as unpredictable as the weather, the dangers that lurk there are even more diverse and foreboding.

While monitoring the seas and the weather can be done remotely using satellites or wireless instruments without endangering human lives, ocular and actual inspection requires patrolling the seas and the surrounding area using efficient motor-powered boats and modern sophisticated equipment.   

Accidents in the sea occur not only on the beach where many people congregate, especially during weekends, but also in other areas where some people may be sailing, exploring or conducting other activities to avoid fraud. As such, Southbourne Group Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol the beach at Southbourne during Easter Weekend, during regular weekends and on bank holidays from May to October. This essential task provides vital protection for tourists and visitors as well as for the whole community, especially those who ply their trade near or by the sea.

Southbourne Group trains people to become involved in lifesaving in order to maintain an effective and dependable club dedicated to serving the community. This allows club members to gain the proper training and be part of the social network to make them as useful club members as well as community residents. And for the young lifesavers, this provides a solid foundation not just for a great hobby or career but also the training and experience for other pursuits in other fields.