Our surf lifesaving patrols were boosted on Thursday evening with another eight volunteers being assessed and signed off as Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Crew.
The main role of the IRB Crewperson is to perform rescues (including swimming rescues) and manage any patients, as well as assisting the IRB Driver with safe operation of the IRB. Our crew were trained in pre and post operational equipment maintenance, safe operating procedures, negotiating and performing rescues in a surf environment in an IRB, and developed the skills required to participate in surveillance and rescue operations within the surf lifesaving environment. All IRB Crew already hold a Bronze Medallion and Cert II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue).
Our new crew completed what turned out to be one of the longest IRB Crew courses in Port Sorell history, commencing their training in March of this year before COVID-19 shut down all training activities just one day prior to their planned assessment date.
The new crew have boosted our number of IRB qualified lifesavers to 24 & they will soon joined by two more who will be assessed in the new year.
Feel free to say hello to our new crew if you see them out on the water.
