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Surf Life Saving NSW trials free Beach Wi-Fi technology

Surf Life Saving NSW trials free Beach Wi-Fi technology
January 27, 2020

Visitors to selected NSW beaches are being provided with real-time safety information following the rollout of a trial of free Beach Wi-Fi technology this summer. The technology is initially being trialled at four locations in NSW: Byron Bay, Bronte, Nth Cronulla and Nth Wollongong.

Surf Life Saving NSW President George Shales has no doubt the technology has the potential to save lives noting “the WiFi trial will give beachgoers, including people from non-English speaking backgrounds, access to vital safety information when and where they need it most.”

The WiFi signal is targeted within an area of around 100 metres, which is designed to attract people to the safer area of the beach, between the red and yellow flags. The WiFi units will be positioned on the beach by lifesavers or at some locations on weekdays by lifeguards. Prominent signage will tell beachgoers that WiFi is available and how to login.

Once connected, the home screen features easy to understand safety tips and links to more information on beach safety such as how to spot a rip current. Users can select this information to be displayed in five languages other than English, including Chinese, Arabic and Hindi.

The technology also allows Patrol Captains or lifeguards to push real-time safety alerts to beachgoers about current hazards, including bluebottles, sharks, rips or beach closures due to dangerous surf conditions. These are pre-translated into other languages.

With too many coastal drownings occurring outside patrol areas, Surf Life Saving NSW hopes the technology will encourage more people to swim between the flags.

Shales added “for us, the benefits are two-fold; it’s a great way to encourage swimmers to stay between the flags, but it’s also a platform to provide live information on conditions and safety tips, particularly to international tourists in their own language.”

On average over the last 10 years, around 27% of drowning deaths in Australia were people born overseas. International students who are drowning are mostly from India (29.4%) and China (26.5%).

The NSW Government has provided the funding for Surf Life Saving to trial ways to enhance the safety of the public on NSW beaches and to reduce the rate of coastal drownings each year in NSW.

NSW Minister for Emergency Services, David Elliott advised “by funding this initiative, we are giving our volunteer lifesavers the tools they need to keep people safe on the beach this summer.”

Shales thanked the NSW Government for their support “for this new technology which we hope will play a key role in protecting both international and domestic beachgoers this summer.”

Related Articles

4th January 2020 - Surf Life Saving NSW responds to bushfire crisis

9th December 2019 - Surf Life Saving NSW report identifies trends and areas of concern for the 2019/20 Summer

4th December 2019 - Surf Life Saving Queensland receives funding boost for surf safety

10th October 2019 - New Surf Life Saving Club Patrol Tower opens at Seacliff

21st August 2019 - Former Surf Life Saving NSW executive charged over $2.7 million fraud

7th July 2019 - Surf Life Saving NSW among charities to be promoted by City of Sydney

16th June 2019 - NSW Police investigate missing millions at Surf Life Saving NSW

29th April 2019 - Surf Life Saving Australia shares beach safety challenges

18th April 2019 - Surf Life Saving NSW urge Easter water safety

27th February 2019 - BP donates more than $200,000 to Surf Life Saving NZ

7th February 2019 - Surf Life Saving Australia receives funding for its Seniors fitness program

1st February 2019 - Surf Lifesaving NSW raises water safety awareness with pop-up beach

22nd December 2018 - Surf Life Saving NSW jet ski fleet boosted to increase beach safety for swimmers

19th January 2018 - Australian lifesaving drone in world first ocean rescue

18th November 2018 - Wi-Fi alerts to keep Queensland beachgoers safe this summer


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