Isle of Man RNLI Community Safety Team launch local Waterside Responder Scheme
Isle of Man RNLI Community Safety Team launch local Waterside Responder Scheme
Lifeboats News Release
Over the past few months, the team have been working hard alongside our partners the Isle of Man Coastguard to bring the Waterside Responder Scheme to the Island.
The scheme has been successful in other areas of the UK and has saved lives. The RNLI's Respect The Water campaign aims to half the number of accidental drownings by 2024.
The Waterside Responder Scheme is specifically aimed at waterside businesses, training their staff to be able to confidently and safely use a rescue throwline and store them on their premises to use in an emergency situation. These could be pub staff, door staff, office workers or shop employees - basically anyone who works close to a quayside environment.
This coming week, staff from five quayside public houses in Ramsey are going to be trained and able to help the community in time for TT but it doesn't end there though. The equipment, training and maintenance is provided absolutely free of charge. Therefore it will be available to anyone in danger all year round.
The team intends to approach other quayside businesses after TT in all coastal towns and develop further, hopefully by the end of the year, having at least two waterside responders in each area.
To add to this scheme, we are looking for a business that can help us develop and produce a stencil for clean art, a pressure washed pavement sign that has no environmental impact.
The team are also going to make four rescue throwlines available for public events. So if you have a quayside event that you feel this training would benefit from, don't hesitate to contact us and we can train your event staff and marshals.
The Isle of Man RNLI Community Team leader is Edd Christian and can be contacted via email at [email protected]
Notes to editors
Caption for attached photo: Clipart of rescue throwline being used. Credit: RNLI
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mike Howland, Douglas RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624496029, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Ireland on 00353876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Ireland on 00353871254124 or [email protected]
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.
