Station Taxis offers boost to Sunderland RNLI Respect the Water safety campaign
Sunderland based taxi company has offered Sunderland RNLI volunteers an early new year boost by helping them spread their Respect the Water safety message.
Station Taxis, Sunderland’s longest established taxi company, has backed the RNLI’s campaign by displaying stickers in their taxis across the city, in a bid to raise awareness about water safety.
Trevor Hines, Managing Director of Station Taxis said: “We are very pleased to support the RNLI in spreading this vital message. We have almost 200 vehicles and transport over 50,000 people each week, so we are hoping to raise awareness of the campaign with our customers and the wider community”
Five-year figures show an average of 24 people die around the north England coasts each year.
121 people died over the past five years and over half (51 per cent) of them were taking part in activities like walking, running, climbing and boating and were, therefore, unlikely to have intended to enter the water. Slips and falls while walking and running contributed to the most coastal deaths in the region, accounting for 31 per cent.
The RNLI is aiming to halve the number of coastal deaths by 2024.
The charity’s national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, is this year warning people – particularly adult men – to be aware of the dangers of the coastline, as well as the water itself.
Andrew Gillies, Sunderland RNLI Community Safety Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to the management of Station Taxis for agreeing to support our vital campaign.
'The sea might look inviting, but it can be dangerously unpredictable, with hazards which can be fatal if not respected.
'Cold water is a major risk for anyone who ends up in the water – intentionally or otherwise. The body’s reaction to sudden immersion in cold water will trigger uncontrollable gasping, which can draw water into the lungs and lead to drowning.
'The coldness will also gradually shut down the use of limbs, making it very difficult even for strong swimmers to stay afloat.
'Currents under the surface can overwhelm even the strongest swimmers. They can drag people out of their depth so quickly, and if you try to swim against them you’ll become exhausted.
'We want people to enjoy the water but to make sure they respect it.
Those interested in finding out more about the dangers of the coast can visit the Respect the Water website and see for themselves at www.rnli.org/respectthewater or search #RespectTheWater on social media.
As a registered charity, the RNLI relies on voluntary donations and legacies from the public for its income.
END
Notes to editors
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station is the oldest continually operation lifeboat in the United Kingdom. It was originally opened in 1800 before being adopted by the RNLI in 1865.
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station has a profile on Twitter (SunderlandRNLI) and Facebook (RNLI Sunderland) where supporters can keep up to date with station specific activities and news.
• Sunderland RNLI Lifeboat Station operates two inshore type lifeboats: An Atlantic 85 8.3m inflatable capable of 35 knots and a D Class (IB-1) 4.5m inflatable capable of 25 knots.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone:
Paul Nicholson, Sunderland RNLI Press Officer on 07957 494 077 or email - [email protected] or
As an alternative please contact RNLI Headquarters Public Relations on 01202 336000.
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.