Global Boarders Safety
Global Boarders › Surf School › Safety
Requirements to join:
- All packages are open to solo travellers, groups and families of all levels of surf experience and all ages. Children and adults must be able to swim 25 metres.
- No prior surf experience is needed.
- Guests must be confident swimmers, in good health, in good physical condition and free of injuries.
- There is no maximum age limit!
- I/We agree to sign up to the Global Boarders Health and Safety regulations on arrival to the intended surfing session in order to ensure safety to all participants.
- I/We understand that Global Boarders carries full public liabilty insurance in case of negligence on our part and the instructors carry their own Sports Coach insurance, however you are required to take out your own personal, cancellation, accident, property insurance before arrival.
- I/We declare that to the best of our knowledge that we are fit and able to take part in a surfing lesson and are able to swim 25 metres both unaided and confidently; do not suffer from any medical conditions that would endanger me or any other participants.
Normal Operating Procedures
Preparation For A Surfing Session
- Before the commencement of the surfing session it is the responsibility of a member of Global Boarders (usually the instructor in charge) to collate all relevant information which will include any relevant medical concerns and information which could prove important in the event of an emergency.
- If you bring your own equipment it must be in top condition and safe and suitable for the purpose intended. Global Boarders accept no liability whatsoever should you use any of your own equipment. The equipment provided by Global Boarders will be in good condition and safe and suitable for the purpose intended. Before the commencement of each session the times and locations will be checked and confirmed for suitability.
Instructor specific
- All instructors actively working for Global Boarders will be fully qualified BSA coaches.
- As part of this qualification they will hold the relevant life saving/beach lifeguard qualifications.
- All instructors must behave in a suitable manner and adhere to safe practice at all times; quality coaching will be adopted as normal practice allowing for a quality experience.
- All instructors whilst active on behalf of Global Boarders will be punctual, friendly and wear appropriate clothing at all times.
Meeting / instructing / supervising the guests
All lessons must be met with punctuality, and all guests are to be made to feel welcome and looked after.
- Guests' ability levels must be assessed and the appropriate boards allocated, wetsuits if required will be sized appropriately and allocated.
- All participants are to be briefed on acceptable codes of behaviour, health and safety requirements, and environmental issues and above all of these safe operating guidelines.
- The safety and welfare of both guests and instructors is of high importance, all safety points, procedures and their function must be adhered to.
- A positive, friendly and enjoyable atmosphere must be maintained throughout every session.
- The Global Boarders' instructor must NEVER let the behaviour of an individual compromise the safety and wellbeing of the group or themselves. All disputes will be dealt with firmly and quickly according good practice and sound operating procedure.
- All incidents, accidents and emergencies will be dealt with appropriately and recorded and reported in the Global Boarders' accident report log book.
- Sufficient time must be allowed at the end of the session for debriefing and discussions with Global Boarders guests.
- All equipment issued to the guests must be checked for damage / repaired and cleaned as appropriate.
- All Global Boarders' instructors are to leave the beach environment in the state they found it taking into account environmental issues.
Emergency Action Plan
- The senior member of staff will take control in an event of an emergency.
- The second in command will, if needed, be designated in case of an emergency.
- There will be pre arranged emergency signals for all guests to adhere to that will not conflict with the lifeguards and cause potential unsafe conditions.
- All Global Boarders guests will be withdrawn from the water during an emergency where a head count will then be conducted.
- Guests will be used if necessary to assist in an emergency e.g. crowd control and obtaining assistance etc.
- In the event of a water rescue another instructor / pupil will be sent to contact the relevant emergency services whilst we enlist any suitable help to:
(i) Effect the rescue of the patient - without putting the instructors' and guests' lives at risk.
(ii) Remove the person to a safe area (victims of a spinal injury should not be moved unless absolutely necessary).
(iii) Diagnose the extent of injury and shock.
(iv) Follow appropriate action with reference to previous training.
If there is a land based incident and Global Boarders' instructors are attending then all guests are to be withdrawn from the water.
If an instructor in charge, is injured or becomes incapacitated during the operations of a lesson:
All surfers in the group to remove themselves from the sea and gather away from the water's edge in a safe and secure position - THEN CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWING:
(i) If on a lifeguard beach, seek assistance from the lifeguards on duty.
(ii) If there are no lifeguards seek assistance from another instructor and / or appropriate person on the beach.
After any incident there will be a debrief and the emergency action plan will be assessed and re-structured if needed.
Child protection / vulnerable adults
All Global Boarders staff have been screened by the Criminal Records Bureau. Global Boarders operates to a strict child protection practice.
- Global Boarders' instructors must be aware of their relationships with, and attitudes to, young people and adults who are deemed vulnerable. The code of conduct must at all times are appropriate to the age and gender of the individuals and groups concerned.
- Global Boarders' instructors conduct (formal and informal) and contact (physical, visual or verbal) must at all times be of a professional manner and must not give rise to undue comment or detrimental speculation.
- Global Boarders' instructors must at all times be aware of their legal, social and emotional responsibilities towards the guest in their care. As a code of good practice these guidelines will be adhered to at all times.
