Walmer RNLI seeks to educate and inspire local youngsters

Walmer RNLI welcomed members of the Sea Scouts on a visit to the station on Friday evening, 13 March. Visits Officer Jenny Preston gave a talk on beach safety and the FLOAT and RISE safety messages.

Walmer boat crew member Ste Withers spoke about personal protective equipment used by both boat and shore crew, lifejackets, and personal locator beacons. He also explained the difference, if they found themselves in difficulty at sea, between a 'Pan Pan' and a 'Mayday' call to the Coastguard.

Fellow boat crew member Ben Winslade spoke to the group about what they should take afloat with them, including a lifejacket, a means of communication with someone ashore should it be needed, what equipment would help should they go overboard, what they would need to navigate at sea including the use of charts and the flashing sequence of buoys. A third boat crew member Luke Curry was also on hand to keep his colleagues to time!

The evening finished with a competition using a throwbag and visit to the station shop.

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station 01304 374475, 07906 623037 christopher_winslade@rnli.org.uk

· Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 620 7426, 07785 296252, paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For 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 enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.