RNLI Urges coast-goers to stay safe as Lifeguard season comes to an end

Chris Cousens, RNLI Community Safety Partner, said: ‘With the weather starting to turn colder as we head into the Autumn and Winter, and sea conditions becoming more challenging, we are asking people to take more care on the coast. With no lifeguards on duty we are reminding people that if they get into difficulty themselves, or they see someone in difficulty on the coast or at sea call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Our volunteer lifeboat crews remain on call all year round, and are ready to assist 24 hours a day, but the best thing we can advise is that if you are heading to the coast please respect the water, check tide times online or locally and read coastal safety signs and follow the advice on them’.

RNLI lifeguards patrol over 249 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, highly trained, strong and fit. They must be able to swim 400m in under 7½ minutes, and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds. However, a good lifeguard rarely gets wet - 95 per cent of a lifeguard's work is preventative.

RNLI lifeguards monitor sea conditions and set up the appropriate flags, watch the people on the beach and offer safety advice both on the beach and in classrooms through our education programmes.

With the summer drawing to a close and children heading back to school, the RNLI’s Lifeguards are beginning to finish for the season on most of the beaches they patrol in the North West.

Ryan Jennings Wirral RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor said: ‘Due to the hot summer this year there have been an increased number of incidents and rescues keeping our lifeguards extremely busy and proactive. We are proud to say they have dealt with multiple major incidents have in selfless, dependable and courageous manner, demonstrating how highly skilled our RNLI Wirral Lifeguard team are. Massive thanks to all of the Lifeguards, Lifeboats, Coastguard and other external agencies. Lifeguard season on the Wirral ends on 30th September’.

You can find a list of Lifeguarded beaches here.

Notes to editors

North West RNLI Lifeguarded Beaches Season End Dates:

Finish 2^nd September

• Leasowe Bay

• Formby

• Ainsdale

• Southport

Finish 30^th September

• West Kirby

• Moreton

• Harrison Drive

• The Plateaux

• New Brighton (Perch Rock)

Year Round Lifeguard Cover

• Crosby

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.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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