Lifeguards down under are turning to technology to make beaches safer.

Seconds count when it comes to saving a life


They are using a computer surveillance system to monitor Australia's beaches in an attempt to reduce deaths by drowning.

"Surf life savers work in an operational environment where seconds count, so having a good communications system that can capture data quickly is vitally important. It will and can save lives," said Peter Dawes of Surf Life Saving.

The nerve centre of SurfCom might look like an ordinary beach shack, but it is home to a communication system that is revolutionising surf life-saving.

On location, on time

SurfCom is the Gold Coast emergency communications centre for life-savers in Queensland.

It is a purpose-built, fully integrated radio, telecommunications and computer network for the beach.

The alarm can be triggered by a member of the public on the beach or by simply phoning-in.

The call can then be tracked on the SurfCom system.

"The simplicity of it is that the operator pushes the button and that sends the signal through our radio network and the information pops up as an icon on our map," said Mark Parsons of Zetron Australasia, which provided the technology.

"The operators here can then send information to people out there on location at the time."

Jet boat teams are then dispatched and the rescue is co-ordinated and tracked using global positioning systems.

Beach cameras can zero in on trouble spots while an emergency services helicopter provides aerial surveillance and support.

It is the only dedicated surf and beach surveillance and communications network in Australia, driven by a unique software system that was in fact custom-built and designed by volunteer surf life-savers.

"In many ways these are different surf life-savers than many are used to seeing," said Mr Dawes

"They're indoors, they're operating computers in an indoor environment, and they're so advanced in what they're doing, they're actually customising software to suit their own needs."

Continued Here...

I think nothing will beat the old fashion way