title: A physiological profile of elite surf ironmen, full time lifeguards & patrolling surf life savers.
abstract: The physiological profiles and proficiency of 32 volunteer surf life savers (LS), 15 professional lifeguards (LG), and 8 elite surf ironmen (IM) aged from 18 to 44 were compared. Measurements included anthropometry, muscular power, muscular strength-endurance, flexibility, VO2max, maximum heart rate, peak blood lactate response and proficiency in 3 rescue simulations. Both LG and IM were significantly faster than LS in all rescue simulations. IM had significantly greater VO2max (68.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) than LS (56.3) and LG (57.9). IM had significantly lower heart rates than LS after maximal swimming and running, and significantly lower blood lactate 3 minutes post swim (8.4 mmol/L) in comparison with LS (14.0) and LG (12.2). LG obtained better results than LS in 2 of the 3 muscular strength-endurance tasks. It is concluded that: LG and IM are significantly faster in aquatic rescue simulations than LS; IM have greater aerobic capacities than both other groups; the majority of Australian LS have adequate fitness and aquatic skills for surf rescue, although a small subset of LS do not. This group of poorly performing LS are not identified by current surf rescue screening procedures.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing & School of Health Sciences Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gulbin
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Fell
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Gaffney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013550:Swimming / Q000293:injuries