Triathlon

The following refers to the implementation of a triathlon event. Refer to the specific schedules when teaching/coaching the disciplines included in the triathlon.

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here.

Triathlon involves potential risk in each of the disciplines involved. Refer to the modules listed in paragraph for the specific hazards that may be encountered in each discipline.

Hazards that may be encountered in this activity include:

• equipment (e.g. bicycles, bicycle racks)
• obstacles
• traffic
• dehydration
• fatigue
• collisions
• biological hazards (e.g. marine stingers)
• environmental hazards (e.g. adverse weather conditions)

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in triathlon involves high risk (level 3).

A registered teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

Competition officials (event coordinator and event marshals) should have the qualifications set out below.

Officials at the swim leg should have:

• the ability to effect a recovery of a student from the water
• the ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader should be:

• a registered teacher with competence (demonstrated ability to undertake the activity) in the teaching of triathlon
• an adult with competence (demonstrated ability to undertake the activity) in the teaching of triathlon

The event coordinator should be:

• a registered teacher with competence (demonstrated ability to undertake the activity) in coordinating triathlon events
• an adult who has competence (demonstrated ability to undertake the activity) in coordinating triathlon events

The event marshals should:

• be over the age of 16 years
• have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures
• understand and enforce rules

Bicycles should be inspected. Those that fail a mechanical inspection should not be used.

Helmets must be worn for the cycle leg and be of the type approved by Standards Australia.

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where these activities are conducted.

Teachers should:

• inform parents (or caregivers) of the details of activities and supervision to be provided
• obtain parents' (or caregivers') written permission for students to be involved.

Students should be capable swimmers, cyclists and runners.

Students should wear footwear for the run and cycle legs and wetsuits or stinger suits during the stinger season in relevant locations.

Management of Activity

Time of the day or season of the year should be considered when planning an event to minimise heat stress and dehydration.

The maximum recommended distances for age-groups are as follows:

The course configuration should be designed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all students and officials.

The course should be selected in consultation with police and local authorities.

All course legs should:

• be around a circuit, round robin or loop
• be point-to-point
• avoid crossing themselves or another leg
• be designed to minimise laps
• avoid head-to-head confrontations (out and back)
• be designed to emphasise safety

As much of the race course (bike and run) as is feasible should be closed to other traffic. Police should be requested to provide assistance.

Written permission should be obtained from public and/or private entities to use the course.

The teacher should select the swim course using the following considerations:

• the course should be reasonably protected from potentially adverse weather conditions
• the course should be designed so that emergency procedures can be carried out from all sides of the course
• a triangular course is desirable - out and back' courses should be avoided
• the course should be defined by brightly coloured buoys
• any hazards should be removed, where possible, or clearly identified
• start and finish areas should be firm, clean, clearly marked and free from potential hazards

The teacher should select the cycle course using the following considerations:

• the course should be a wide, hard surfaced roadway with exclusive use, if possible
• head-to-head confrontations and the number of laps should be minimised
• normal vehicular traffic patterns should be followed to allow cyclists to ride with traffic
• railroad tracks, bridges with grates and drawbridges should be avoided
• sharp turns and/or right hand turns across traffic should be minimised
• quick succession of turns in opposing directions should be minimised
• stop signs and traffic lights should be avoided

The teacher should select the run course using the following considerations:

• overlap with or crossing of bike leg should be avoided
• runners should run facing traffic
• the course should provide reasonably flat and firm footing

The teacher should select the transition area using the following considerations:

• crossings at the entry/exit points and in the bike corral should be avoided
• The bike corral should be:
  • located immediately adjacent to a hard-surface roadway
  • large enough to provide 3-5 metres between bike racks (if used); and
• have wide enough spaces between the rows of bike racks to permit multiple side-to-side bicycle mounting and dismounting
• when bike racks are provided, a range of race numbers should be assigned to each rack, with specific spaces for each student
• transition distances between course legs should be avoided.

Teachers must ensure:

• support vehicles are registered with the Department of Transport, Queensland
• support watercraft conform to the regulations of the Department of Transport and are driven by a licensed driver
• privately owned watercraft have adequate comprehensive and third party insurance (refer to HLS-PR-012: Power Boating in Small Craft and HLS-PR-012: Power Boating in Large Craft).

Prevailing weather conditions should be considered. If weather conditions are unsuitable, the activity should be curtailed and appropriate shelter should be sought.

Medical Security

A medical treatment and evacuation plan should be arranged to include:

• location and operation of the medical headquarters station
• operational procedures for the ambulance/s
• location and operation of all aid stations
• communications support to medical operations
• location of all convenient medical facilities adjacent to the course
• listing of expected medical staff

Aid stations should be provided:

• at the transition area from time of check-in until at least one hour after the close of the race
• before and after swim
• as often as possible in the run

Adequate water should be on hand at all aid stations.

It is recommended that refreshments be provided after the race.

Swim Leg

A water safety plan should be developed to include:

• positioning of lifesavers, observers, monitors, stations, rescue craft
• instructions for covering all triathletes and identifying swimmers having difficulty; and
  operational procedures for making a rescue

The water safety plan should be practised before the triathlon.

The swim course should be supervised by skilled aquatic personnel. TRIFED Safety Standards are:

• one swim course marshall per 50 students
• one rescue craft per 20 students

Swim cut-off times should be established.

TRIFED suggests 35 minutes per kilometre.

The event coordinator should use a wave group start of not more than 150 swimmers whenever a triathlon starts with the swim leg.

The time interval between waves should be flexible to minimise problems during the swim leg and the formation of packs on the bike leg.

A procedure should be implemented to account for all swimmers at the start, during the race and at the swim finish. Swim-leg dropouts should be accounted for. It is recommended that all students wear brightly coloured swim caps.

Cycle Leg

Maximum police assistance should be sought in conducting the course.

All turns, turnarounds, traffic hazards and high-risk intersections should be marked and monitored with signs at least 50 metres before the hazard.

Race in progress' signs should be used. It is recommended that arrangements be made with the police to reduce traffic speed on the course.

All cycle turns should be kept free of sand and gravel.

A 'sag wagon' should patrol the cycle course at the end of the leg.

Cycle cut-off times should be established. TRIFED suggests 30 minutes per 10 kilometres.

Traffic regulations must be obeyed at all times during the cycle leg.

Any controlled intersections (i.e. traffic lights) and major uncontrolled intersections should be manned by police and/or race marshals.

Run Leg

An aid station should be provided within 1 kilometre of the start and thereafter every 2 kilometres. It is recommended that cold water be provided rather than flavoured drinks.

Aid station personnel should include spotters' who can recognise a distressed, hyperthermic and/or dehydrated runner.

Transition

Toilets should be available at or near transition areas.

Change areas should be provided.

A medical headquarters station should be established in the transition area.

Radio communications should be provided near the medical headquarters station.

Debris should be removed from the running surface.

Spectators and vehicles should be kept clear of the area.

Pre-Race Check-In

Students should be informed of:

• physical layout of the course, presented by map and description, including unusual course hazards, medical and aid station locations, competition rules and any local course rules
• race-day check-in procedures.

All cycles and helmets should be inspected before the event. Unsound equipment should not be used.

Pre-Race Briefing

Students should be informed of:

• Current Water And Air Temperatures;
  starting procedure and start signal;
  procedure for summoning aid during the swim
• finish procedures and cut-off times for each leg and the finish
• any alterations to the course or procedures
• their obligation to notify race officials of withdrawal or dropout

The length of pre-race briefing should be minimised so students do not get cold.

Each race should be finished before the next group begins.

Medical officers should remove incapacitated students from the course.

Medical officers should complete medical reports on all students who receive treatment during or after the race. Refer to the following for specific schedules when teaching/coaching the disciplines included in the triathlon:

• Swimming, for the swimming leg
• Athletics - Running Events, for the running leg
• Cycling, for the cycling leg

• Swimming
• Athletics - Running Events
• Cycling
• HLS-PR-013: Developing a Sun Safety Strategy
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions
• HLS-PR-005: Injury, Illness and Dangerous Event Recording and Reporting HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations