
RNLI Skegness remind of the dangers of inflatables ahead of the Easter weekend
RNLI Skegness volunteer lifeboat crew have reshared an informative video about the dangers of inflatables in the sea after a spate of incidents last summer.
With the Easter Weekend fast approaching and many families heading to the coast, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Skegness Lifeboat Station calls for anyone visiting the coast to take extra care and be beach safe this Spring and Summer.
Following a series of service launches to drifting inflatables off Skegness last year, RNLI Skegness and their lifeguarding team have republished a training video demonstrating the real dangers of inflatables in the sea. The video featuring the Skegness inshore D-class lifeboat and seasonal lifeguards shows a simulation of the rescue process of an inflatable dinghy drifting offshore in an offshore breeze.
The rescue featured in the video would usually take approximately 15 minutes from paging the lifeboat to arriving on the scene. Even in a slight breeze, an inflatable can drift a mile offshore if the wind and tidal conditions are right. Children are often primary users of inflatables at sea, and the risks are high, especially if they cannot reach the shore.
Lincolnshire Police recently announced that their Sandi Starfish scheme, which is run in partnership with RNLI Skegness, will be relaunching for the season.
If you are visiting the coast this weekend, look out for Sandi Starfish and remember to:
· Collect your free wristband from the Lifeboat Station or other participating sites
· Parents and carers write your contact information on the inside of the wristband
· Use the Sandi Starfish flags along the beach as a meeting point or utilise the RNLI Skegness Lifeboat Station as a meeting point.
Commenting on the issue, RNLI Skegness Lifeboat Station Coxswain Craig Willard said, ‘While inflatables can be great fun, we would advise that you don’t take them to the beach as they are not designed for open water, and it can take a tiny breeze for them to be swept out to sea - much quicker than you can swim or paddle back to the shore. Should you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
The core safety advice is:
· Have a plan - check the weather forecast and tide times and read local hazard signage
· Keep a close eye on your family – on the beach and in the water
· Don’t allow your family to swim alone
· Don’t use inflatables
RNLI Picture caption
Please credit Nick Walton.
RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Brad Johnson: [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.
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.