Volunteers risking their skin to save swimmers urge water safety

Volunteers arrive at the beach early in the morning, scan the waves for signs of rips and plant their flags into the sand where they believe swimmers will be safest.

"We're doing everything possible," Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA) general manager of coastal safety Shane Daw said.

The country witnessed a number of tragic drownings in December 2023 including the deaths of a kayaker in Victoria and a man on Conjola Beach in NSW.

"We've ramped up everything that we're doing and we've got lifeguards and surf lifesavers doing more hours than ever before," he said.

"We really implore to all the public to be aware of their own surroundings and their own limitations because people overestimate their own ability regularly," the lifesaver said.

Mr Daw said the summer holidays made lifesavers "nervous" with up to 50 per cent of annual drowning deaths occurring between December to February.

"That leads to circumstances where we've had to come and rescue or put our lives at risk as well to save others," he said.

Mr Daw said 500 million people visit Australia's beaches each year and lifesavers perform "between 10,000 and 11,000 rescues".

First aid is given to "around 45,000 to 60,000" people each year, he said.

SLSA planned targeted surf lifesaving relief around the country in anticipation of the raised death toll including extra inflatable rescue boats, jet skis and four-wheel-drive patrolling.

Mr Daw said no one plans to "get into difficulty" at the beach but a greater understanding of the risks is necessary.

"Things happen very quickly," he said.

He urged swimmers not to drink alcohol or take drugs before swimming and recommended keeping a close eye on children, and adults, in the water.

Life jackets should be worn on boats, jet skis and while fishing, he said.

"No one ever has a bad day because they wore a life jacket."