Multi-agency water safety demonstration at RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station
On the morning of 23 April volunteers from RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Station joined with Mersey Fire, Merseyside Police and the UK Coastguard to give a water safety demonstration to children from Holy Trinity Primary School.
As part of ‘Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week’ organised by the NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council), these four agencies collaborated for the first time in Hoylake to teach younger generations how to identify risks and hazards in and around the water.
Volunteers from RNLI Hovercraft crew and the UK Coastguard staged a mud rescue outside the station to show the children how the professionals will respond to such a situation and encouraged them to call 999 or 112 if they find themselves in similar difficulty.
The children were then given a tour of the RNLI’s Shannon Lifeboat and Lifeguard equipment by volunteer crew and lifeguards and were interested to hear stories of local rescues. They also enjoyed seeing the Police Caged Vehicle on the station forecourt.
RNLI Coxswain, Andy Dodd, said ‘It’s fantastic to work alongside other agencies to teach younger generations in the local community how to stay safe around the water. We hope this will help us achieve our target of reducing drowning by 50% by 2024.'
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service brought a fire engine to the event to give children further insight to the equipment they use. Steven Pang, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Station Manager and Lead for Water Safety, said ‘Nearly half of people who accidentally drown in the UK never intended to enter the water, so it is imperative that young people are aware of the risks and take action accordingly.’
The Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service will shortly be launching a Merseyside Water Safety Forum with partners, including the RNLI, which will continue this important work.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers are on standby 24 hours a day ready to fulfil their duty in search and rescue operations.
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For more information please contact Victoria Phipps, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07709 391253.
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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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