Swanage RNLI Water Safety Team attending Windrush Day
The Swanage RNLI Water Safety Team were delighted to be invited to attend the Windrush Day, an Afro-Caribbean Reggae event on the beach to be held on Shell Bay, Studland on Sunday 21st June.
In 2024 the event attracted 500 families from the afro Caribbean community and this year's event is expected to be a great opportunity to share the RNLI's relaunch of its Float to Live campaign.
This event coincides with the RNLI and the Black Swimming Association (BSA) having just launched a joint campaign to tackle the alarmingly high rates of non-swimming and water vulnerability within Black, African, and Caribbean communities. With the summer months driving millions to the UK coastline, both organisations are working to equip these communities with vital, life-saving water survival skills.
Recent figures highlight a critical public safety gap with data showing that 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children in England do not swim, leaving them at a drastically higher risk of accidental drowning. To combat this, the RNLI is promoting its signature Float to Live messaging, tailored specifically for those with little to no prior swimming experience.
Gary Richardson, Swanage RNLI Water Safety Officer said. 'We want to share a simple message with everyone, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to getting into trouble if they find themselves in the water unexpectedly.
The lifesaving technique is:-
- Tilt your head back with your ears submerged.
- Relax and breathe normally while you fight the urge to panic.
- Move your hands and legs to stay afloat—it’s okay if your legs sink, as everyone floats differently
- Call for help or swim to safety once breathing is under control
Gary, who along with Water Safety Advisor, Alan Stephen will be at the event seeking to share this simple message with as many visitors as possible, in the hope that it might just make a difference should any of them find themselves in difficulty in the sea or inland waterways.
Reggae on the Bay is a free Windrush Day Gathering at Shell Bay Beach, from 11am to 6pm, delivered by Afro*Disiac Live Radio CIC.RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [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
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