Emergency services exchange lifesaving skills to keep public safe this summer
South Wales RNLI lifeguards took part in a joint training exercise with local Coastguard teams last week, exchanging vital skills and knowledge to help keep the beaches safe this summer.
The exercise was led by Marc Lancey, MCA Senior Coastal Operations Officers, who explained and demonstrated various techniques used to release people trapped or buried due to collapsing sand. Senior RNLI lifeguards were also taught how best to lead and manage their teams if such an incident were to happen whilst on duty on the beach.
Adam Pitman, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor explains the importance of teamwork in an emergency situation:
‘Hopefully these are techniques that we will never have to use, but accidents can happen and it’s vital that the RNLI lifeguards are trained and are given the right skills to respond safely in such a case.
‘This was a great exercise that helped promote interagency working and helped promote teamwork and understanding between the RNLI and Coastguard teams within the beach environment. If an incident like this was to happen in future, we now have the skills and knowledge to deal with the incident safely and effectively.’
RNLI lifeguards provide a daily safety service on beaches across Pembrokeshire throughout the summer season. The charity’s lifeguards are ready at their posts from 10am-6pm every day until Sunday 4 September.
Notes to editor
Attached are photos taken from the joint training exercise on Tenby’s South beach last week. Credit: RNLI
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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