What equipment must be on the beach for a Full Patrol?

Equipment must be complete, functional, available for immediate use (rescue ready) and in position at the scheduled patrol start time, and must stay rescue ready for the whole operational period.

Primary patrolling equipment

• Pair of red and yellow feathered patrol flags; pair of black and white quartered flags (surf craft prohibited signage attached)
• IRB with 25HP outboard motor, fuel bladder and accessories; 2 x Level 50 SLSA-approved lifejackets (PFD)
• 4 x handheld radios in waterproof bags (1 on Channel 3 to monitor SurfCom, held by the Patrol Captain and/or Vice-Captain; the other 3 on Channel 2, Patrol)
• SSV or alternative vehicle (where applicable); patrol shelter or tent with anchors; binoculars
• 2 x rescue boards, 3 x rescue tubes, 2 x pairs of swim fins
• AED, oxygen resuscitator kit, first aid kit (with sharps container), spinal board, 2 x first aid bum bags
• Loud hailer/PA, emergency evacuation alarm, 2 x signal flags (orange with blue stripe), 1 x emergency evacuation flag (red and white quartered)
• Sunscreen (minimum SPF 30+); a whistle per patroller is recommended

Signage: 2 x "Rescue Craft Access Area", 2 x "Swimming Not Advised", 2 x "Beach closed", 2 x "Blue Bottle" and 1 x "Dangerous Conditions (Beach Closed)" mobile signs.

Resources: the SLSNSW Public Safety SOPs (online is fine), the Patrol Operations Manual (electronic is fine), and Patrol, Incident and IRB logs (Operations App or log books).

Source: SLSNSW Public Safety SOPs (September 2026), PSS 3.3.