Hastings RNLI Station open day welcomes future lifesavers
Amidst the local festivities of Old Town Week in Hastings, on Tuesday 31 July the town’s lifeboat station opened its doors to allow members of the public to board their Mersey class lifeboat, the Sealink Endeavour.
Alongside Hastings lifeboat crew, local RNLI lifeguards showcased their own training equipment and rescue watercraft, while talking to visitors about their work educating the public around water safety.
Following first aid demonstrations from the lifeguards, children were eager to take it in turn to practice chest compressions with the training equipment and get behind the wheel of their rescue watercraft. RNLI lifeguard Harriet Lowe guided the potential future recruits and shared her enthusiasm for how the RNLI works to keep people safer.
Find out more about the charity's current campaign 'Respect the Water' to learn how to float and save yourself from cold water shock.Notes to Editor
- RNLI lifeguards patrol over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands
RNLI Media Contacts
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Taylor Johnson, Lifeguards Press Officer (Summer 2018) for the South East 07785 296252
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Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
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For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLIFor more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiriesMembers of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.
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.