Balmoral Nippers runs an advanced programme of education for Age Groups 12 and 13 that we call Bronzies.

The Bronzie Programme is open to any Nippers who have completed Age Group 11 the season before.  The Nipper must be a confident swimmer to participate.

We run this programme with support from Surf Lifesaving NSW who deliver a programme covering some additional topics and lifesaving activities.

                                                  

The objective is to give our Nippers a great understanding of the Dangers of the Water and Surf … and how to help those in trouble – with the potential to save lives

TIMETABLE

Bronze Medallion and Bronze Star instruction and assessments are detailed below.  In addition the following dates should be noted:

29th October: Registration Day 

19th November: Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club Rip Experience

21st January: Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club Balmoral Visit

Bronze Medallion

 

Week 

Date 

Content  

1 

5th November 

Introduction, Bronzies Theory, Rescues Tube rescues

2 

12th November 

CPR, Deepwater rescues, Spinal

3 

19th November 

Freshwater SLS - Rip Safety (All Bronzies)

4 

26th November 

Group A: 400m swim and entries/exits

Group B: clothed survival swim

(Catch Up 1)

5 

3rd December 

First Aid and catch ups 

6 

10th December 

Group A: clothed survival swim

Group B: 400m swim and entries/exits

Bronze Star

Week 

Date 

Content  

1 

28th January

Introduction and familiarisation activities 

2 

4th February 

Water rescues 

3 

11th February 

Resus Awareness and R+R 

4 

18th February 

Group A: Clothed swim and initiatives

Group B: 300m target swim

5 

25th February

Group A: 300m target swim

Group B: Clothed swim and initiatives

6 

3rd March 

Certificates awarded 


 

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Bronze Star Programme

The aim is to develop skills and knowledge of safe water rescue and survival.

Theory

Safe water practices, how to survive in the water, self-preservation in rescues, recognising an emergency, assessment before a rescue and during a rescue, priorities for rescue, treatment for shock and elementary after care, DRSABCD. 


Practical

Resuscitation awareness: Demonstrate checking for dangers, assessing unconsciousness, clearing and opening the airway, positioning the casualty for CPR, mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing, mouth-to-nose rescue breathing, chest compression, the appropriate action for a casualty who vomits or regurgitates, the appropriate action for airway blockage, the recovery position.

Throw rescue: Perform a throw rescue using a PFD to a person in difficulty 6 metres from safety. Perform a throw rescue using an unweighted rope to a person in difficulty 10 metres from safety.

Rescue and resuscitation: Perform a tow rescue of an unconscious and non-breathing person 10 metres from safety and commence rescue breathing while wading.

Accompanied rescue: Perform an accompanied rescue using a flotation aid for a person in difficulty 15 metres from safety.

Defensive techniques: Demonstrate a defensive position, a reverse and a leg block. 

Tow: Perform a tow rescue using a non-rigid aid of a weak swimmer in difficulty in deep water 20 metres of safety.

Surface dive: Demonstrate head-first and a feet-first surface dive in deep water. 

Underwater search: Demonstrate a search pattern in deep water.

Initiative: Demonstrate initiative in effecting a rescue of a person who is no more than 15 metres from safety.

Survival skills: Perform a survival sequence including floating, treading water, putting on a PFD in deep water and demonstrating the HELP technique.

Swim: Swim 300 metres in a target time of 10 minutes.  

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Surf Life Saving NSW

The objective of this surf education program is to cover other areas that don’t cross with Bronzie Training. 

There will be lots of hands on and activities, again the objective being to help the Nippers with Safety and Awareness.

Program Summary 

The aim of this program is to provide participants with the skills and knowledge on how to stay safe in an aquatic environment. The students will learn practical water safety skills participating in fun activities and water-based games, which are designed to build confidence in and around the water. 

The foundation topics covered offer pathway options to further Surf Lifesaving awards.

Learning Outcomes

Over the program you will learn the following:

  • Fundamental safety around water

Role of a Lifesaver/ Lifeguard, Signs and flags at beach/ pool.

  • Surf Awareness and Skills

Describing how to identify rip currents and methods of escaping from a rip current.

  • Demonstrate surf skills:

Educational games and activities on navigating a beach and water environment
Swim skills, rescue tube and learning how to paddle and negotiate the water with a rescue board.

  • Perform surf skills:

Wading, board paddling, survival techniques

  • Safety and Wellbeing

Sun safety
Identify causes of accidents, appropriate use of PPE and safe manual handling

  • Recognise appropriate beach types, conditions and areas in the surf for swimming:

Identifying safety aspects of the beach environment and different types of beaches.

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Surf Life Saving NSW – Surf Education Program 

The objective of this being to cover other areas that don’t cross with Bronzie Training. 

There will be lots of hands on and activities, again the objective being to help the Nippers with Safety and Awareness. 

Program Summary

The aim of this program is to provide participants with the skills and knowledge on how to stay safe in an aquatic environment.

The education component of the program includes beach safety, sun safety, what a lifesaver is and what they do; while the physical activities include wading, board paddling and beach games. This age group are also introduced to some of the basic principles of surf safety such as general rescue techniques and first aid - vital skills they can take with them for life. 

The foundation topics covered offer pathway options to further Surf Lifesaving awards.

Learning outcomes

Over the 9 week program you will learn the following: 

  • Surf Awareness and Skills

Describing how waves are formed, how to identify rip currents and methods of escaping from a rip current.

  • Recognise appropriate beach types, conditions and areas in the surf for swimming:

Identifying safety aspects of the beach environment and different types of beaches.

  • Demonstrate surf skills:

Perform front and rear release and escape methods, swim and negotiate the water using a rescue tube. Paddle and negotiate the water with a rescue board.

  • Rescue Techniques

Return a patient safely to shore by performing tube and a board rescues for a person in distress.

  • Perform surf skills:

Wading, board paddling, survival techniques, multiple scenarios

  • Safety and Wellbeing Sun safety.

Identify causes of accidents, appropriate use of PPE and safe manual handling

  • First Aid skills

Identify the principles of basic first aid management.
Perform a basic emergency care management assessment. 

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Bronze Medallion

Holders of this award are recognised as having gained a minimum standard as a qualified lifesaver.

  • Aim : Develop the level of knowledge, judgement, technique and physical ability required to carry out safe water rescues.
  • Minimum age : 14 years old by the end of the season (ie. March)
  • Prerequisite : None, however it is advantageous if the Nipper holds the Bronze Star award. 

Theory 

Safe water practices; survival in the water; self-preservation; recognising an emergency; assessment before and during a rescue; priorities for rescue; CPR theory; acceptance of responsibility; use of bystanders; emergency care and contacting emergency services.

Practical

Resuscitation: Demonstrate effective CPR

Swim: Swim 400 metres continuously within 13 minutes. 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 100m survival backstroke, 100m sidestroke.

Timed Tow: Swim 50 metres, then tow a patient 50m within 3 min 15 sec.

Survival and Rescue Skills: Demonstrate a range of survival techniques and appropriate rescues for a range of different aquatic environments and scenarios.

Spinal Injuries: Basic management of a suspected spinal injury in shallow water.

Rescue Initiative: Demonstrate initiative in effecting a rescue of two people who are in difficulty up to 15 metres from safety. 

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Questions and Answers: 

Q : Are parents meant to be helping, as they did in Age Groups 4 to 11 ?

A : Parents are always welcome to support, and should not be too far away from the group.  There is not a specific need to help run the programme, as the trainers do this, but there may certainly be occasions where they need support – for example on group swims when we will need a ratio of 1 adult to 5 swimmers.

 

Q : What time does the programme run ?

A : Bronzies starts at 8:30am and runs until 10:30am. We want to ensure the team can start at 8:30am sharp. There are 3 parts to the program each week:

  1. Skills Training (8:30am – 9:15am)
  2. Nippers Support (9:15am – 10:00am)
  3. Champs support (10:00am – 10:30am).

Note: not all Bronzies will be required for Champs (particularly on days where champs is just Flags or Run. We can coordinate if some people need to leave early on some days). Obviously, there are always exceptions with families traveling etc, but the expectation is that Bronzies are available and proactively taking part in all 3 areas of the Bronzies Program. Where Bronzies are unable to attend skills sessions, there will be a limited number of make-up sessions that the Bronzies will need to sign up for. All 2nd years need to complete the skills course in its entirety to graduate.

 

Q : What kit do the Bronzie Wear ?

A : Unless otherwise advised by the trainer – the Bronzie should wear Nippers Gold Rashie, Nippers Swimmers.  It is a good idea to also bring down a cap for sun protection.

 

Q : Can a Bronzie Nipper help with other aspects of Nippers ?

A : Supporting Nippers and Champs is an important part of the Bronzies Program. On the sign on day, Bronzies will each be allocated to a Nippers group and support that group for the season. We do this to embed themes of leadership and community, as well as using their skills and training to keep the younger Nippers safe.  The Bronzie can use Nippers Boards that are spare to help in water-based Championships. They should not use the larger Yellow Rescue Boards.

 

Q : My child has not done Nippers at Balmoral but would like to do the two year Bronzie Course – how can I enrol ?

A : The Bronzie programme is open only for Children who have been part of the main Nippers programme, so we are afraid this option is not available. Both Royal Lifesaving and Surf Lifesaving NSW do run other options and courses and it is recommended to review their websites for details.