Volunteer lifesavers share safety tips with local school.
RNLI Tighnabruaich station opened it’s doors this week to show local school children the tools of their trade and share safety guidance as spring brings some warmer weather.
Alongside local colleagues from Kames Rescue Coastguard station, the team used games and fun to familiarise Tighnabruaich Primary School pupils with what is involved being a volunteer, and how to stay safe near and in the water.
Sharing the key points on how to stay safe was lifeboat crew trainer and assessor Ally Young, well known to many of the children as ‘Mr Young’ having taught at the school prior to moving to the RNLI. Giving the children a solid grounding in key water safety lessons using the key messages ‘stop and think’, ‘stay together’, ‘float’ and ‘call 999 or 112’ and ask for the Coastguard, there was also the chance to watch footage of real life rescue operations.
Volunteer crew supported the children to investigate the lifeboat itself, and supervised interaction with safety equipment and PPE allowing the trying on of drysuits, lifejackets and helmets. Many of the volunteers who gave their time are parents of children at the school, and some school staff members are volunteers with the RNLI or Coastguard teams. The day also highlighted the strong community links locally, and hopefully inspired some children to be future crew.
Donald Clark, station manager for Tighnabruaich’s RNLI Lifeboat, says: ‘the kids seemed to enjoy it and have hopefully learned how to stay safe near the water.’ If you get into trouble in the water, or spot someone else in need of emergency assistance, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
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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