Evaluating public awareness and perceptions of emergency response beacons on beaches of New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Most drowning deaths on Australian beaches occur away from lifeguarding and lifesaving services, or outside of their patrol times. In response, Emergency Response Beacons (ERBs), that can be activated to alert authorities of an incident, have been installed at some coastal locations with high drowning risk. This study investigates public knowledge and understanding of these safety devices through analyses of 301 survey responses conducted with beachgoers at beaches, both with and without ERBs, in New South Wales, Australia. Less than a third (28%) of surveyed beachgoers had heard of ERBs, of which half (54%) could correctly describe what an ERB was. Beachgoers living 1–10 km from the coast were more aware of ERB presence (82%) and had learned about them by themselves (45%) or via the news (24%). Only half (50%) of surveyed beachgoers aware of ERBs knew in advance if the beach they were visiting had an ERB installed. Most surveyed beachgoers (72%), including those briefed about them after the survey, rated ERBs as being extremely useful. Survey results also revealed a potential risk for individuals with lower swimming abilities who indicated they would be more likely to enter the water if an ERB was present (80%), perceiving that emergency response and rescue times would be faster. However, results show that ERB locations vary greatly in distances and times from closest emergency services, which could impact the chance of a successful rescue and this perception of increased safety could lead to more people exposed to drowning risks and should be factored into future ERB communications. This study highlights the need for improved public education and broader community promotion of the purpose and locations of Emergency Response Beacons. In addition, the research offers significant contributions to coastal management and policy by providing actionable insights for improving emergency responses to coastal incidents. Our findings lay a foundation for enhanced public awareness and strategic response measures in NSW and potentially serve as a model for similar coastal areas.