The Sands Angling Club Inc. has a policy of encouraging its members and their guests to conduct their activities on club premises, at club functions and on the water in a safe manner.

As the club is operated by Members:

• The Club seeks the co-operation of all members and guests generally to make reasonable efforts to encourage safe behaviour.
• The Club invites members and guests generally to assist with making reasonable efforts to maintain safety on club premises, at weigh-ins, launch ramps and on the water.
• While the club encourages safety, it does not take responsibility for unsafe conduct by members or their guests.

Agreement to abide the club’s policies and rules

In applying for membership all members acknowledge they will abide by the rules and policies of the club and the statutory regulations.

Specific safety issues for club members and guests

Preparing your boat

• To prevent injury to yourself or damage to property, ensure you have adequate assistance to remove your boat from its rack, trailer or car rooftop.
• Make sure your boat is ready for the water and all equipment is in workable condition.

Launching your boat

• Boat ramps during can be slippery and care should be taken to avoid injury to yourself, others or damage to property.
• Be ready to assist others, particularly less experienced boaters.

On the water

You must

• Where required wear an approved personal flotation device.
• Maintain a good lookout for other vessels at all times.
• Have a good understanding of current club rules which makes for safer and more enjoyable boating and Angling.
• keep a safe distance from shore-based anglers, jetties, divers, swimmers and other boats
• In the event of capsize, stay with your boat at all times. If you cannot right your boat, stay with your boat until a pickup boat can assist you.
• If see flashes of lightning, get to land immediately and seek shelter.
• If you are in a boat with threat of lightening strike and cannot get to shore, crouch down in the middle of the boat. Go below if possible.
• Make sure everyone on board knows:

Where all safety gear is stowed

How to handle any fishing gear they may use during the day's fishing. Confusion during the excitement of landing a fish could get someone injured.

Individual responsibility:

• The decision to participate rests with each boats Captain and each individual member or guest. They should not participate if they are not confident they can handle the prevailing and forecast conditions.

• Parents of young competitors must ensure that their child is wearing suitable clothing, safety equipment and sunscreen.
• All members must notify the Club Captain upon entering the water and leaving the water.

First aid

First aid kits are to be carried in all Boats competing in club events, and it is advised that First Aid kits should also be available to Shore based Anglers competing in club events.
 

Emergency Distress, Urgency and Safety Radio Procedure

In the following EMERGENCY circumstances, contact the authorities on an emergency frequency (Channel 16 VHF, Channel 27.88Mhz, and HF 4125, 6215, &8291Khz), provide the information requested by the dispatcher, and follow their instructions:

            • “SECURITY” (Spoken clearly three times) – announcing your location and intended actions when potential hazards are present (i.e., about to cross an area with known dangerous currents).

            • “PANPAN” (Spoken clearly three times) – calling for aid in a non-life threatening situation (i.e., out of gas, not sure of position, etc.).

            • “MAYDAY” (Spoken clearly three times) – in distress, SAY THREE TIMES, and announce: vessel name, position, nature of distress, number of persons on board, type of assistance needed, and activation of EPIRB (if applicable).

Safety Equipment

• If in distress, marine flares/smoke, flags, flashing lights, mirrors, or other visual distress signals should be displayed as appropriate to attract rescue efforts.

• Follow standard lifesaving, first aid, and water survival procedures as needed; the first priority is life safety, property is secondary.

Have a list of Emergency Contacts and phone numbers on hand or in your boat. (See Hard Copy for example).

Have a Boat Safety Checklist to complete before you venture out on the water. (See Hard Copy for example).

Land and Rock Fishing

No fish is worth your life. Many accidents occur when people move to lower levels to land fish.

Wear sufficient Sunscreen, and protective clothing.

Wear shoes suited to the area you are fishing. Wear shorts and other clothes that allow you to swim should you get washed into the water. Heavy, wet weather gear, long trousers and woolen jumpers can hamper your swimming ability.

Keep a flotation device in your tackle box and wear one in areas where the swells can be large.

Always fish with a friend, always tell someone where you are going and when you will come back. If you change your plans, tell someone.

When fishing from the rocks, look for an area that you can swim for should you be washed from the rocks. If there is a rip working, don't try to swim directly back against the rip or you will waste energy and may not be able to regain the land. Swim diagonally across the rip until you are clear of it. Before rock fishing, watch the prevailing conditions for at least 10 minutes. Take note of which rocks are wet and whether the rock pools are encrusted with salt. Select areas where the surface is not slippery or steep. These sites can be dangerous because they are difficult to climb should you accidentally fall or get washed into the water.

King waves are a myth. Wave dynamics have been studied around the world and although large waves can form, these are due to the combination of sea, swell and the formation from which the person is fishing. Large waves don't strike at random - fishers and others put themselves in a position where they are likely to be washed from the rocks.

 If a large wave is coming and you are fairly certain you will be washed off your fishing platform, jump into the water. While this may seem like odd advice, statistics show that many fatalities are due by head injuries caused by the fisher being bounced on rocks by waves as they roll in and wash back.

Have spare tackle and gear at hand so that snags can be cut off and lines repaired. Do not try and retrieve tackle, especially in rocky, steep areas.

If your mate is washed into the water, never jump in to save him or her. A bucket with a rope, your fishing rod or the line can be used as rescue devices, but don't recklessly risk your own life.

If you are fishing with a hand line, make sure you are not tangled with it should a large bite.