RNLI ‘lifejacket locker’ safety initiative arrives in Swanage

Following RNLI research that showed boat users can often be put off wearing their lifejacket aboard their tender because of the ‘hassle factor’ of having nowhere secure to store them once ashore led to the Lifejacket locker initiative.

After a successful trial at Salcombe, Fowey and the River Yealm the initiative is being rolled out across locations on the south coast. The RNLI supply the lockers to harbours and locations free of charge providing they meet the criteria, along with signage. It’s hoped the scheme, aimed at visiting sailors and motor cruisers coming ashore in tenders, will help curb preventable accidents between moored vessels and the shore.

Coxswain, Dave Turnbull, said: “embarking or disembarking a vessel is always a risky time so to be able to wear a lifejacket without the worry of what to do with it once ashore is one more way to reduce the risk of drowning.”

Swanage Lifejacket lockers are located between the pier and the stone quay with further lockers planned for south beach in Studland.

FOOTER 

Notes to Editors 

Photos shows Swanage Lifejacket lockers credit RNLI

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For more information please telephone Roydon Woodford, Swanage RNLI Volunteer Deputy Press Officer on 07542 942022 or at [email protected]  

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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.

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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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