RNLI Float to Live truck trailer visits Whitley Bay via Scania partnership

The RNLI and Scania, who have been partners since 2024, are working together to share the RNLI’s Float to Live message over the peak summer month. From 21 July, Scania is helping to share vital water safety information by wrapping one of their trailers in the RNLI’s Float to Live campaign advert and driving it around the country.

The Scania ‘Float to Live’ trailer is acting as a mobile, high impact billboard to help share the lifesaving message across multiple locations. As August brings the highest number of visitors to the coast during the school holidays, the trailer will play a key role in ensuring the Float to Live message reaches as many people as possible when it matters most.

The trailer is currently visiting Whitley Bay, having arrived on 7 August to share the Float to Live message. Parked close to The Links, by the entrance to the car park for Waves - Whitley Bay’s swimming pool and leisure centre – the Scania trailer will share the vital Float to Live message with the local community and visitors to North Tyneside’s coastline alike.

The RNLI Float to Live trailer was delivered to Whitley Bay early morning on Friday 7 August by Scania truck driver Steven Gargett. The trailer can be seen from the Waves Leisure Centre, Whitley Bay beach and the nearby historic building Spanish City.

Kay Heslop, Lifeboat Operations Manager for the RNLI Cullercoats Lifeboat Station, said: ‘It is exciting to witness this worthwhile partnership between the RNLI and Scania. We are delighted to see the Scania ‘Float to Live’ trailer visiting our local area, helping to promote the Float to Live message even further this summer. We know that August is the busiest month on the coast so ensuring that even more people see this vital, water safety messaging is great to see. I urge all families to take the opportunity to learn about and discuss water safety at this time.’

On the Scania truck’s visit to Whitley Bay, Sarah Pennicard – RNLI Water Safety Delivery Manager - said: ‘We are pleased to see the Scania Float to Live trailer supporting water safety awareness across the North and East region this summer. With more people visiting coastlines, rivers and lakes during August, it is important that as many people as possible are aware of the Float to Live message and know what to do if they find themselves in difficulty in the water.’

The charity’s advice for anyone struggling in the water is ‘Float to Live’:

· Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged

· Relax and try to breathe normally

· Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat

· It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently

· Practise floating in a local pool if you can

If you see someone else struggling in water:

· Phone 999 to get help

· Tell them to stay calm and float on their back

· Throw rescue equipment to help them float until emergency services arrive

For more information visit RNLI.org/Float

Image Captions

Image 1: The RNLI Float to Live trailer has arrived in Whitley Bay courtesy of Scania (Credit: RNLI/Tommy Richardson)

Image 2: The RNLI Float to Live trailer was delivered by Scania driver Steven Gargett on the morning of Friday 7 August and can be seen close to Spanish City (Credit: RNLI/Tommy Richardson)

Image 3: Scania in partnership with the RNLI have provided a truck to promote the safety message of Float to Live in North Tyneside (Credit: RNLI/Tommy Richardson)

Image 4: The RNLI Float to Live Scania truck will be in Whitley Bay between 7-11 August 2026 (Credit: RNLI/Tommy Richardson)

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Gillian Carmoodie, RNLI Communications Placement (North and East) on [email protected] or 07483 124 618

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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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.