SLSA TO PURSUE FURTHER PERSONAL FLOATATION DEVICE TESTING

SURF LIFE SAVING, MARCH, 28, 2013: Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) will continue to vigorously pursue the development of safety vests, using the opinions of elite competitors Shannon Eckstein, Naomi Flood and Phil Clayton, who participated in this week’s open testing session at North Kirra Beach, site for this year’s Australian Championships.

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Eckstein, Flood and Clayton provided instant feedback to the SLSA following a 90 minute testing and demonstration session in front of the media.

The three elite competitors were open and honest in their opinions, providing valuable feedback for the SLSA Coastal Risk Manager Adam Weir, the SLSA Operations Project Manager Bree Corbett and the Personal Protective Equipment Project Groups.

“We are going in with an open mind and trying to come to the best outcome for the safety and well being of our members and competitors” said Adam Weir.

Olympic kayak paddler and three-time National ski champion and former Australian Ironwoman champion Naomi Flood tested a Vest while paddling a surf ski along with a helmet used in whitewater canoeing.

“We wear the pink (hi visibility vests) at the moment anyway when we are racing, so it’s an extra bit of padding which you have to get used to again. Swimming was a different story for me though. It does move around a lot and does come up around your ears a little bit. I am leaning away from it myself” said Flood.

(On the helmet): “I think swimming in a helmet is a massive no no…I didn’t swim in the helmet…..but I don’t think anyone would be putting their hand up to swim in a helmet…trying to put goggles on around the helmet, would be a drama.

Ironman Phil Clayton who was wearing a vest that met Australian Standard level 50 Personal Floatation Device (PFD) stated:

“When you are actually swimming, the hard thing is when you come off your craft and one is coming towards you and the buoyancy is such in this one, you won’t be able to get under the water to get away from the craft, that would be a big problem, getting out of the way.

“Not only that when you are swimming out and a really, really big wave comes and you need to get right to the bottom to get away from that dangerous part of the wave it’s going to make it a lot more difficult.

“But the whole outlook on this is all about safety. If they come up with something that we are all going to be comfortable in and workable within the environment…these are all prototypes; you have to go through Australian Standards; right now they haven’t really met the standards for Australia, you can buy the L50 PFD off the shelf but the two others are still being made and built and if they do come along with it then we’re going to have to bring them in. But until the day until they do come along with the right suit, until then I don’t think they should.”
SLSA’s Bree Corbett said other issues such as vests riding up and impeding breathing or restricting swimming ability need to be rectified before a recommendation can be made.
"Anything that poses a secondary risk to our athletes is just not acceptable," Corbett said.
Reigning Ironman champion Shannon Eckstein summed up the challenges facing the iconic sport

“Every sport has to be as safe as possible and that’s what surf lifesaving is doing….and not only with the vests but the risk assessment and with the pink lycras, competing from 8am to 4pm there are so many different aspects we’re making safe at the moment.

Everyone in the movement can understand why they are doing the trial. We’re not silly, we know there is risk in the sport every time you go out in the surf it’s ever changing. No one can ever be guaranteed they’ll be safe out there. Surf Life Saving is doing a great job in trying to perfect these things.”

Guy Britt |National Public Affairs Manager
Surf Life Saving Australia | Locked Bag 1010
789 Botany Rd | Rosebery NSW 2018 | Australia
Ph: 02-9215 8145 | F: 02-9215 8180 | M: 0423 867 844
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W: www.sls.com.au

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by

Ian Hanson

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