Beach Safety: Beachsafe is an online beach safety portal for all Australians and visitors to our shores proudly presented by Surf Life Saving Australia and partners / Spinal Injury awareness

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Beach Safety: Beachsafe is an online beach safety portal for all Australians and visitors to our shores proudly presented by Surf Life Saving Australia and partners Visiting the beach Beaches near me Rips at the Beach Rock fishing First Aid Info Resources

Spinal Injury awareness

Each year many people visiting our beaches and waterways will risk serious spinal injury, often through not thinking of the consequences of their actions for just a brief moment.

FIRST AID
In the event of a suspected spinal injury the correct first aid treatment is to: Firstly remove the patient’s face from the water, and try to stabilise the neck. Assess the patients breathing, as this must take priority. Unless wave or dictate otherwise, if the patient is breathing, the rescue can then proceed unhurried with every effort made to minimise movement of the spine. Seek trained rescue support and medical aid as soon as possible, any neck soreness or pain should be treated as a potential spinal injury until properly assessed.

SPINAL INJURIES
Swim only on patrolled areas and always check the depth of water before diving. If unsure of the depth always enter the water feet fi rst. If in doubt check with the duty lifesaver or lifeguard as to conditions at your local beach.

In the surf, being dumped by a wave on a shallow sandbank is a major cause of cervical (neck) spine injury. Running and diving into the surf
and striking a sandbank are another cause of such injuries. Diving from piers, walls and jetties or natural features such as rock ledges
and cliffs have also lead to injury.

In still water, most cervical spine injuries are due to diving into unexpectedly shallow water or because of unseen obstacles in pools,
rivers, creeks and dams.

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For more information on
any other matter relating to
aquatic safety, contact:

Surf Life Saving Australia
02.9300.4000 or 
slsa.com.au

Surf Life Saving NSW
(02) 9984 7188 or 
surflifesaving.com.au

Surf Life Saving QLD
(07) 3846 8000 or 
lifesaving.com.au

Life Saving Victoria
(03) 9676 6900 or 
lifesavingvictoria.com.au

Surf Life Saving SA
(08) 8354 6900 or 
surfrescue.com.au

Surf Life Saving WA
(08) 9243 9444 or 
mybeach.com.au

Surf Life Saving TAS
(03) 6223 5555 or 
slst.asn.au

Surf Life Saving NT
(08) 8985 6588 or 
lifesavingnt.com.au

... or contact your local 
surf life saving club.