Beach Safety Gear · Coastal Safety · Community Safety · Emergency Medicine · Emergency Response · First Aid Training · Marine First Aid · Prehospital Care · Surf Rescue · Surfers Rescue 24/7 · Surfing NSW · Tourniquets · Trauma Kits · Trauma Training · Wound Care ·Sep 22, 2025

Building Safer Beaches: Our Partnership with Surfing NSW

For the last four years, TacMed Australia has been working alongside Surfing NSW and Surfers Rescue 24/7 to enhance emergency response capabilities across New South Wales’s coastline. Through custom trauma kits and specialised bleeding control workshops, our collaboration is equipping surfers and NSW coastal communities with professional-grade medical training and equipment designed specifically for beach rescue scenarios.

We sat down with Matt Lawson, Head of Community & Water Safety Programs at Surfing NSW, to discuss our partnership over the years and what this collaboration has enabled for Australia's surfing community.

The Partnership in Action

TacMed: Matt, can you tell us how the partnership between TacMed and Surfers Rescue 24/7 began?

Matt: Around four years ago, I set out to find a supplier who could not only source and provide the highest-quality lifesaving medical equipment available in Australia, but also bring the knowledge, skills, and expertise to deliver the necessary training alongside it. TacMed’s real-world military medics not only fit the bill, but also helped elevate our training vision to the next level.

TacMed: What specific challenges does surf rescue present that standard first aid training doesn't address?

Matt: Severe trauma incidents in the ocean and in secluded locations present unique challenges that standard first aid training often doesn’t address. Injuries from shark attack, puncture wound, fin chop, severe lacerations or propeller strikes can cause rapid and life-threatening blood loss requiring immediate and specialised intervention well beyond traditional first aid. Adding to the challenge, these incidents often occur in unpatrolled or remote areas that are not easily accessible to emergency services.

TacMed: Can you share how the Surfers Rescue 24/7 training programs are making an impact in the real world?

Matt: Over the past 10 years, we have countless stories of trained surfers saving lives in situations that could easily have turned catastrophic. With over one million recreational surfers in NSW alone, our goal is to train an army of first responders, empowering them to act quickly and effectively when every second counts.

Understanding the Need

Surfers Rescue 24/7 is a Surfing NSW water safety program that has been running for around 10 years. The standard surfboard rescue course teaches surfers specially developed rescue techniques and first aid training to surfers and recreational water users across NSW. The program recognises that surfers are in the water 365 days and are most often the first responders in an aquatic emergency at both patrolled and unpatrolled beaches including remote breaks where traditional emergency services cannot immediately reach. In these situations, the difference between life and death often depends on the skills and equipment of whoever happens to be in the water or on the beach.

The program is a Surfing NSW initiative, supported by the NSW Government to equip our state's surfing community with practical surfboard rescue techniques, CPR training, jet ski water safety and critical bleeding control interventions. By teaching proper rescue protocols and trauma response, the program is transforming everyday surfers into confident first responders.

Why Professional Medical Training Matters

Marine rescues present unique medical challenges that standard first aid courses don't address. Casualties may be unconscious, bleeding severely, hypothermic, or suffering from near-drowning incidents. Spinal injuries from surfboard impacts or reef contact require specific handling protocols, and remote beach locations can mean extended care periods before an ambulance arrives.

Our collaboration brings together TacMed's military and tactical medical background with Surfers Rescue 24/7 's deep understanding of coastal environments. Our experience in remote, resource-limited operational settings translates seamlessly to the challenges surfers face when providing emergency care at isolated beaches where professional help may be hours away.

TacMed's Role in the Partnership

Bleeding Control Workshops Through our partnership, TacMed and Surfers Rescue 24/7 are able to deliver comprehensive bleeding control training workshops for coastal communities funding by Surfing NSW with support from DPI and the NSW State Government. These sessions focus on the practical skills surfers need when managing traumatic injuries in beach environments.

These workshops cover:

Direct pressure to control bleeding
Effective tourniquet application
Wound packing for deep lacerations that are not amenable to tourniquets
Tips to prevent shock

Custom Trauma Kits Understanding that emergency situations and life threatening scenarios in the surf zone and remote locations have unique requirements, we created a custom trauma kit specifically designed for the Surfers Rescue 24/7 program. These kits contain only the essential medical supplies that will make a real difference in life-threatening emergencies, focusing on equipment that works effectively in coastal conditions.

The Impact: Professional Endorsement

The Surfers Rescue 24/7 board rescue program has earned support from surfing legends and professional lifeguards who recognise the critical importance of rescue and trauma first aid training:

Kelly Slater (11x World Champion): "The knowledge and life skills you learn within this course will save lives."
Layne Beachley (7x World Champion): "This course is a game changer and a must for any surfer."
Ryan 'Whippet' Clark (Bondi Lifeguard): "With over 5000+ rescues in my career... the Surfers Rescue 24/7 course is another level of training."

The Impact: Real-World Application

The collaboration between TacMed and Surfers Rescue 24/7 addresses real scenarios that occur regularly along Australia's coastline:

Surf-Related Trauma Board impact injuries, fin cuts, and reef contact can cause deep wounds requiring immediate bleeding control. While not common, shark attacks do happen, and knowing how to treat a casualty confidently in these extremely critical scenarios is essential for positive patient outcomes.

Remote Beach Rescues Many surf breaks are hours from the nearest hospital. The bleeding control techniques taught in TacMed workshops enable surfers to provide extended care whilst coordinating evacuation.

Multi-Casualty Incidents Large swells and dangerous conditions can create scenarios involving multiple casualties. The training programs prepare surfers to prioritise treatment and manage resources effectively until professional emergency services arrive.

Expanding Impact

As the Surfers Rescue 24/7 program continues across NSW, TacMed is proud to support their initiative with expert trauma first aid training and world-class medical gear.

Every surfer trained and supported through these programs becomes a more capable first responder, and a powerful advocate for TacMed's mission of zero preventable deaths. When equipped with proper training and gear, this community becomes our strongest ally in ensuring every Aussie beach goer goes home safe.