Longhope RNLI Returns to North Walls School to Reinforce Water Safety Messages

The annual Water Safety visit is designed not only to introduce children to essential lifesaving advice but also to reinforce those messages over time, helping them remember what to do if they ever find themselves in or near water. Last year's session introduced pupils to the RNLI's Water Safety Code, teaching the four key messages of Stop and Think, Stay Together, Float and Call 999. This year, volunteer Water Safety Officer Deanna Johnston returned to see just how much the children had remembered.

The answer was – quite a lot.

Working with 17 pupils from North Walls School, Deanna revisited each of the four key safety messages before challenging the children with a water safety quiz. To everyone's delight, the children absolutely smashed it, remembering an impressive amount of what they had learned the previous year and confidently answering questions throughout the session.

Deanna was joined by her husband, Longhope RNLI Coxswain Scott Johnston, who brought along a selection of lifesaving equipment including a lifebuoy, helmets and lifejackets for the children to explore and try on.

One of the highlights of the morning came when Scott, with the help of his daughter Elouisa, demonstrated how an automatic lifejacket inflates. Much to the children's amusement, the lifejacket burst into life with a loud bang, creating plenty of laughter while demonstrating just how quickly this vital piece of safety equipment works in an emergency.

Throughout the session, the pupils were a credit to North Walls School. They were enthusiastic, exceptionally well behaved and fully engaged from start to finish, asking thoughtful questions, sharing their own experiences and showing a genuine interest in staying safe around the water.

For children growing up in Orkney, the sea is part of everyday life. Whether travelling by ferry, spending time around harbours and piers or enjoying the coastline with family and friends, understanding how to stay safe around water is an essential life skill. By revisiting these messages each year, Longhope RNLI hopes to give children the confidence to make safe decisions if they ever find themselves in or near the water.

But, these sessions are about more than just water safety. They are also an opportunity to help young people understand the work of the RNLI and the important role volunteers play within island communities. By meeting volunteer crew members and learning about the equipment and skills involved, it is hoped the children will continue to take pride in their local lifeboat station and, perhaps one day, be inspired to become the next generation of RNLI volunteers.

Deanna Johnston said, ‘It’s always a pleasure to visit the boys and girls at North Walls Community School. They always engage and contribute to the sessions to demonstrate that they understand the vital messaging that we deliver. The more we reinforce the water safety messaging, the more we can safely enjoy the beautiful coastline that we are so lucky to have access to. Thank you to the school for facilitating our visit and we’ll see you again next year!’

Scott Johnston added, ‘It’s nice to be able to work with the children who are all very enthusiastic about water safety and the RNLI. It’s so important to create a link between the current crew and the crew of the next generation. These children are our future.’

Notes to editors

· Longhope lifeboat station has been operating since 1874. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: Longhope Lifeboat Station (rnli.org)

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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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