Contents Photo: RNLI/Andy Perryman Our lifesaving values 2 Service delivery 4 Incidents attended in 2016 5 People aided in 2016 6 Training 7 Community engagement 8 International 9 Awareness and fundraising 11 Equipment and infrastructure 12 Media 13 News 14 Casualty care in action 15 RNLI lifeguarded beaches 2016 17 1
Our lifesaving values Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams RNLI lifeguards once again provided prevention and rescue services that improved safety for visitors to our beaches. Be it providing safety information in schools or patrolling the beach, every lifeguard played their part in making the community safer in 2016. The lifeguard service supports the community by providing the highest quality lifesaving, beach safety and education services and we will, as appropriate, take on a leadership role in safety management guidance and standards. During 2016 the service again worked hard to meet the expectations of the communities that we serve. The RNLI lifeguard service is built on seven key principles, all aimed at providing a high-quality service that meets an identified need. Our team at RNLI Headquarters supporting lifeguard services: Peter Dawes Lifesaving Services Manager Lee Fisher Lifeguard Services Manager Brett Shepherd Operations Manager (Lifeguards) Marina Wilson Lifeguard Services Coordinator Tim Fallowfield Lifeguard Services Coordinator Our core principles of service delivery are to: 1. Provide a lifeguard service delivery based on beach safety assessments and benchmarked against best practice standards. 2. Provide quality lifeguard training that ensures that people are competent in all aspects of their work. 3. Engage positively with the community at a local, national and international level. 4. Protect our people from harm and preserve our assets. 5. Ensure that teams are given timely and effective business and administrative support. 6. Provide an environment that encourages innovation and improvement. 7. Ensure that teams get the logistic support that provides the equipment and infrastructure to meet the operational need. RNLI lifeguards provide a service that enhances the beach amenity available to the community and the information and statistics provided in this report demonstrate the dedication of the lifeguards and teams that support their work in serving local communities. Contact us at: lifeguards@rnli.org.uk 2
Influence Education Supervise Rescue Beach safety assessments RNLI Non-RNLI 240 3 Audits 12 15 Meet the Lifeguards Beach to City 116,783 children 1,002 schools 19,992 children 131 schools Contracted supervised bathing hours Preventative actions 200,440 2,793,769 Assistance 2,876 Rescue 2,082 Lives saved 127 Quick scans 0 29 Hit the Surf 10,775 children 407 schools Major casualty care and minor first aid 12,176 Total lifeguard beach safety advice 148,311 children 1,540 schools Search 197 Near miss 978 Missing/found 1,777 Other 325 Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams 3
Service delivery Beach safety assessments The RNLI offers a beach safety assessment consultancy service to all local authorities and private beach owners. The assessment process is designed to help facilitate a comprehensive beach safety management strategy by highlighting hazards, and assigning ratings and suggested control measures. A beach safety assessment is completed for each RNLI lifeguarded beach every 5 years, with annual reviews of the full beach safety assessments. For non-rnli beaches, the following were completed in 2016: 3 beaches were fully assessed, bringing the total number of non-rnli beaches assessed to 413 29 quick scans (short-version beach safety assessments) were completed signage audit reports were provided for 12 beaches, bringing the total of non-rnli beaches to 216 we responded to requests for public rescue equipment audit reports for 3 beaches; 111 non-rnli beaches have now benefitted from this service. Plymouth University has now concluded their research to quantify beach risk. The RNLI will be working throughout 2017 to test the research findings in order to inform and assist future rollout of the lifeguard service. Service development The total number of RNLI beach lifeguard units in 2016 was 240. The 16 new beaches were: Swanage Swanage Town Council Perranuthnoe Cornwall County Council Lusty Glaze Private Owner St Andrews West Sands and Elie Harbour Fife Countryside Trust West Runton North Norfolk District Council Lowestoft North Sentinel Leisure Trust Rhyl and Prestatyn Denbighshire County Council Pink Bay, Rest Bay, Coney/Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay Bridgend County Borough Council Three Cliffs National Trust Newgale Central Pembrokeshire County Council Ballycastle Causeway Coast and Glens District Council. Other changes that took place were: Bognor Regis had two lifeguard units and this was reduced to one. Burgh Island was relocated to Bigbury-on-Sea North. Additionally, following five fatalities on 24 August 2016 at Camber Sands, the RNLI responded by setting up an additional lifeguard service patrol at this beach. The service ran from 27 August to 11 September 2016. Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard 4
Incidents attended in 2016 RNLI lifeguard management area Lives saved Rescue Assistance Major casualty care Minor first aid Search Near miss Missing/ found Other Total Dorset, and Jersey 8 93 137 209 1,570 36 53 336 49 2,491 South Devon 5 60 104 85 854 5 10 49 24 1,196 Carrick and Kerrier 12 247 170 85 1,329 10 35 89 28 2,005 Newquay and Padstow 14 244 207 147 1,572 2 12 88 33 2,319 Penwith 6 78 133 66 738 0 7 53 17 1,098 North Cornwall and North Devon 11 326 200 142 1,059 3 12 270 41 2,064 West Wales 4 23 21 22 319 5 0 6 3 403 South Wales 6 46 68 56 454 31 7 174 26 868 East Lindsey 1 14 8 21 329 16 12 104 13 518 Norfolk 2 35 55 61 549 10 10 63 19 804 Ramsgate (Thanet) 7 22 55 91 657 7 8 202 19 1,068 Boldon 8 16 7 38 247 1 3 20 15 355 Chichester 2 6 25 28 128 13 13 40 17 272 Scarborough 2 35 47 68 583 17 4 137 19 912 Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard Sefton and Wirral 0 14 57 47 325 24 13 94 39 613 Scotland 0 4 16 16 124 3 3 22 5 193 Northern Ireland 2 7 28 13 129 14 3 30 9 235 Total 90 1,270 1,338 1,195 10,966 197 205 1,777 376 17,414 5
People aided in 2016 RNLI lifeguard management area Lives saved Rescue Assistance Major casualty care Minor first aid Search Near miss Missing/ found Other Total Dorset, and Jersey 10 142 262 213 1,570 36 211 336 43 2,823 South Devon 6 111 211 85 854 5 42 49 21 1,384 Carrick and Kerrier 14 397 345 85 1,329 10 243 89 28 2,540 Newquay and Padstow 17 381 670 147 1,572 2 54 88 18 2,949 Penwith 10 140 269 66 738 0 27 53 21 1,324 North Cornwall and North Devon 15 572 432 142 1,059 3 112 270 22 2,627 West Wales 6 37 29 22 319 5 0 6 5 429 South Wales 16 84 137 57 454 31 19 174 35 1,007 East Lindsey 1 19 9 21 329 16 66 104 5 570 Norfolk 3 49 74 64 549 10 31 63 16 859 Ramsgate (Thanet) 8 24 88 92 657 7 17 202 16 1,111 Boldon 10 20 11 38 247 1 29 20 12 388 Chichester 4 16 57 29 128 13 43 40 17 347 Scarborough 4 46 84 69 583 17 17 137 26 983 Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams Sefton and Wirral 0 23 130 47 325 24 48 94 30 721 Scotland 0 10 22 20 124 3 15 22 5 221 Northern Ireland 3 11 46 13 129 14 4 30 5 255 Total 127 2,082 2,876 1,210 10,966 197 978 1,777 325 20,538 6
Training The RNLI produces a range of training resources and courses, and reviews them throughout the season. Our lifeguard trainers meet regularly as a working group to review best practice and prioritise future developments in lifeguard training. A new Operational Command course was delivered to lifeguard supervisors and senior lifeguard managers as part of their induction training. RNLI lifeguard training courses 2016 Course title Operational Number of lifeguards trained Total number of lifeguards competent Casualty Care for Lifeguards (CC4LG) 681 1,438 Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) full qualification 102 295 All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) full qualification 106 349 Rescue Watercraft (RWC) full qualification 30 154 Inshore Rescue Boat Crew (IRBC) full qualification 42 170 Inshore Rescue Boat Helm (IRBH) full qualification 34 108 Training RNLI Trainer/Assessor 34 153 ATV Trainer/Assessor including updates 0 66 4WD Trainer/Assessor including updates 0 77 Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard RWC Trainer/Assessor including updates 9 43 IRB Trainer/Assessor including updates 9 54 Leadership Operational Leadership (OLC) 96 250 7
Community engagement In 2016 RNLI lifeguards were out and about delivering the RNLI Community Engagement programmes Meet the Lifeguards, Beach to City and Hit the Surf to primary and secondary schools, youth groups and the wider community throughout the UK and Jersey. These programmes covered the three elements of the drowning chain lack of safety advice, lack of education and the inability to cope and are contributing towards the RNLI s aim to influence, educate and reduce drownings by 50% by 2024 in UK and Irish waters. In 2016, lifeguards delivered core beach safety messages and safety advice to more than 148,000 children in more than 1,500 schools via the community engagement programmes. A major milestone was reached when the total number of children who have taken part in these programmes since 2003 reached 1 million the total now being 1,046,535. The Meet the Lifeguards programme was delivered to 116,783 children from 1,002 schools during the summer and winter months. RNLI lifeguards worked in schools raising awareness of general water safety and particularly the dangers of walking on frozen ponds, lakes and rivers. The Beach to City teams were also out and about delivering interactive beach safety sessions to 7 11-yearold pupils in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff, as well as in Chester and Preston, which are two new venues. Lifeguards visited 131 schools and spoke to nearly 20,000 children, providing children from inland communities with basic knowledge to stay safe when they visit the coast as well as highlighting dangers on inland waters. The Beach to City programme has now been delivered to over 163,000 children in more than 880 schools across the UK. Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams Programme Number of participants Meet the Lifeguards 116,783 Beach to City 19,992 Hit the Surf 10,775 Events 761 8
International SeaSafe Cox s Bazar, Bangladesh The RNLI has been working with the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB) since 2012. Originally this partnership was formed in order to produce and pilot the International Lifeguard Manual. The RNLI then provided lifeguard training to a small group of people who, in turn, started to provide voluntary lifeguard patrols during the weekend and on busy public holidays. In 2014 the RNLI formalised this work into a project called SeaSafe at Cox s Bazar. Cox s Bazar is in the south-eastern corner of Bangladesh, and has one of the world s longest natural beaches stretching 125km, with Cox s Bazar town itself covering approximately 10km. The current SeaSafe team consists of 5 senior lifeguards and 12 lifeguards, supported by a local manager and a supervisor. The service runs 8 hours a day in the winter, and increases throughout the season up to 12 hours a day in the summer, with the day being split into morning and afternoon shifts. For many people, it is their first visit to the beach and the majority of beach goers are unable to swim. As with all lifeguard services, the bulk of the SeaSafe team s work is raising awareness and trying to prevent people needing to be rescued in the first place. During quieter periods of a shift, typically from 11am to 2pm, some lifeguards will be engaged in community education work in various local primary and secondary schools. Photo: RNLI/Darren Williams 9
SeaSafe project activity In 2016 lifeguards carried out just over 209,000 preventative actions. They rescued 56 people from the water, provided first aid to 7 people and dealt with 5 lost children. The community education team visited 81 schools, educating 16,595 children on how to spot the dangers, keep themselves safe and rescue others from the water. In November 2016 SwimSafe was introduced to Cox s Bazar. Within 2 months, 128 children had graduated from the programme, being able to swim a distance of 25m. Development of the programme is ongoing. The next few years Over the course of the next few years, the plan is to: expand the lifeguard services to additional beaches based on identified need have a targeted approach to community education and delivering water safety messages - in schools - in the community - to high risk communities. At the moment there is a skills gap in the areas including risk assessment and community risk mapping, service level identification, equipment selection and procurement, signage design and how to identify suitable locations for these signs. In order to ensure that the right service is in the right place all these skills are important when planning and implementing lifeguard services. The RNLI will be working with the SeaSafe team to enable them to implement services from the start and to be in a position of self-sufficiency, with limited support from the RNLI. There are already six lifeguard trainers who have been trained by the RNLI, which means that they are able to train more lifeguards as and when needed. The RNLI s role will also be to provide technical support, guidance and training for community education where needed. Photo: RNLI/Mike Lavis Photo: RNLI/Darren Williams Photo: RNLI/Darren Williams 10
Awareness and fundraising Our lifeguards form a vital link in a chain of action that ultimately ends in saving a life and our fundraisers and supporters form a first link in this chain, ensuring that RNLI lifesavers can carry out training and rescues without worrying about where the money is coming from. In 2016, lifeguards also helped to raise awareness and valuable funds in addition to their lifesaving duties, working alongside the dedicated fundraising teams. In collaboration with RNLI fundraising teams in Wales, lifeguards helped to promote and support our national Mayday and Fish Supper campaigns, as well as our Opt-In campaign. Links to the new Barry Island Visitor Centre in south Wales remain strong and, at a new lifeguarded area in north Wales, the lifeguard team worked alongside Rhyl Lifeboat Station and our face-to-face colleagues to deliver successful engagement in the local community. The Northern Ireland lifeguards also got behind Mayday by attending Photo: RNLI/Mike Lavis the Yellow Welly Rugby Festival at Newtownards and supported photoshoots for Mayday corporate supporters. They also took part in the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival s opening parade on Rathlin Island. In Scotland, lifeguards walked from Leven Coastguard Station to Kinghorn Lifeboat Station as part of the Mayday Coastal Challenge, raising funds for Mayday as well as raising the RNLI s profile in the area, and working alongside the local stations, branches and coastguard teams. They also attended art, sporting and safety events, with sand drawing days and beach rugby at Elie Harbour, and first aid demonstrations as part of the fire service days at Aberdour Silver Sands throughout the summer. Other first aid assistance was provided at the Burnham-on-Sea Colour Run, along with first responders at the Blyth Tall Ships event. Sporting events proved popular with lifeguards supporting the Tour De Yorkshire, driving RNLI trucks in the peloton throughout the 3-day event; providing help and support during the Three Shires Cycle Ride in Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire; and increased coverage along the beach during the America s Cup World Series at Portsmouth, as well as providing a rescue watercraft for the RNLI stand at the event in July. The Midlands was not forgotten despite its lack of proximity to the sea. Alongside our community fundraising managers, lifeguards delivered the Beach to City campaign and also supported Respect the Water activities. In Cornwall, lifeguards provided safety cover and support to both the Castle to Castle and Around the Mount swims. The lifeguard teams helped plan the events, risk assess them and develop water safety plans, with lifeguard managers being the water safety manager at both events. The teams provided safety cover on rescue boards, rescue watercraft and inshore rescue boats, as well as first aid cover on the beaches and radios for communication throughout the events. Also in Cornwall, RNLI lifeguards provided an insight into some of their equipment including a four-wheel drive patrol vehicle and inshore rescue boat at Falmouth Week, talked to members of the public, and also took part in a game of water polo. They were very much a big part of the event alongside traditional fundraisers with a souvenir stall and the face-to-face team. Lifeguards around the UK and Jersey also attended many of the lifeboat station open days, providing both static and live displays in addition to behindthe-scenes support of the events. Face-to-face Face-to-face fundraisers have been part of RNLI beach life for over 10 years. Our mission is to inspire committed support through engaging, educating and influencing; ultimately helping communities Respect the Water. The teams operate at RNLI lifeguarded beaches, lifeboat stations and at local and national events. They work collaboratively with other RNLI teams to maximise opportunities, raising income, sharing safety advice and playing a vital role in the organisation s objective of a 50% reduction in drowning by 2024. The face-to-face teams success is made possible due to fantastic support from RNLI lifeguards, volunteer lifeboat Photo: RNLI/Nathan Williams crews and local branch volunteers. Since 2008 the fundraisers have inspired over 110,000 new regular supporters to give at least 3 per month, generating over 22 million so far. 2016 was our best year on record, with more than 18,000 new supporters. Alongside fundraising, lifeguards train the fundraisers to provide key safety messages, tailored to the local area and hazards. In 2016, coastal safety advice was shared with families in more than 150,000 conversations. As the face-to-face teams are often the first contact the public has with the RNLI on beaches, simple advice such as swim between the red and yellow flags supports our lifeguards to manage the beaches. 11
Equipment and infrastructure The RNLI has 507 lifeguard assets. As the demands of lifesaving evolve, the RNLI must adapt to provide facilities for lifeguards that they need and deserve. Operating in harsh coastal environments, the challenge is to provide the perfect space for lifeguards that is capable of withstanding the elements with minimal maintenance and can be positioned anywhere from cliff tops to shingle beaches. All lifeguard equipment and facilities are designed to support their lifesaving activities and ensure that their safety and wellbeing are cared for in a dynamic beach environment. Both environmental and aesthetic criteria also need to be satisfied when integrating buildings and temporary infrastructures within the natural and urban environment in which they are located. During 2016, three new permanent lifeguard units were added to the existing assets. Each permanent lifeguard unit offers a self-contained lookout with power, water, gas stove and storage solutions so that effective lifeguard cover can be provided on the beaches. The permanent buildings include 30 support centres plus ancillary buildings and fixed container stores. The transient lifeguard units include rescue board bins, wheeled units and shipping containers, some of which are hired seasonally. Facility type Total Permanent lifeguard units 63 Permanent buildings or structures 82 Transient lifeguard units 362 Photo: RNLI/Steve Harvey 12
Media During 2016, the RNLI Communications Team continued to raise awareness about lifeguards, the work they do and the importance of beach safety. Between 1 January and 31 December there were 1,928 of print and broadcast coverage in national and regional media. These reached 37.8 million people with an advertising value equivalent of 6.5 million. Highlights BBC Wales TV and radio, ITV Wales, Western Mail and the South Wales Evening Post all covered the launch of a new lifeguard service at Three Cliffs Bay. National and media broadcast and print media attended a media morning at Boscombe beach in August where RNLI spokespeople gave interviews urging people to respect the water following a number of drownings. The Daily Mail and The Sun covered a Newquay lifeguard s rescue of three teenagers who had drifted out to sea on a makeshift raft. An article in the Evening Gazette, Teeside, described how a lifeguard rescued a boy who had been trapped on rocks due to an incoming tide at West Scar, at the Redcar Beacon end of the beach. An interview with a senior lifeguard, who treated a child with a weeverfish sting, was played on BBC Good Morning Ulster and Q Radio. North Norfolk News reported a rescue by lifeguards at Sea Palling after three adults started drifting out to sea in a dinghy. Camber Sands Following five drownings that happened in one day at Camber Sands, there was a great deal of coverage about the safety of that beach and whether it should have RNLI lifeguards. A temporary service was provided by the RNLI from August Bank Holiday weekend for just over 2 weeks. This was reported by national and regional media, such as Sky, BBC, ITV, 5live, The Guardian, The Telegraph and Kent Online. Real-life footage News and radio websites used footage online from our Contour cameras. Actual rescue footage of Bantham lifeguards rescuing a young boy, who had drifted out to sea on an inflatable toy, was viewed on YouTube 2,721 times and was used by the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror and other nationals. Regional television broadcasts continued to use helmet camera footage to illustrate news stories about lifeguards and rescues. Social media There was significant positive activity on the RNLI s social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. A post in August about a lifeguard at Trevone beach rescuing a bodyboarder caught in a rip current received 27,000 video views and reached 88,000 people. Footage captured by a Penwith lifeguard of basking sharks that visited Porthcurno beach in June reached 1.6 million people and received 402,000 views. Both posts received a number of positive comments and likes on Facebook. Other links to videos and pictures of lifeguard rescues received many hundreds of click-throughs. In 2016, lifeguards across the different regions were trained to use Snapchat and took over the RNLI account during the summer. Each lifeguard was responsible for the account for 1 week. Content included safety advice, footage of training exercises and getting to know the lifeguards. Media training Media training was delivered throughout the year by the RNLI Communications Team so that lifeguards are equipped with the necessary skills and confidence to deal with the media. An integral part of operational training, the sessions recognise the important role that lifeguards play as the face of the RNLI. Media evaluation Media coverage was evaluated at the end of 2016 and, although not exhaustive, it provides a useful snapshot of PR activity and media coverage secured during the year. Total volume of coverage The volume of coverage for lifeguards from 1 January to 31 December 2016 was 1,928 items of print and broadcast coverage. A peak of 42% of the coverage was in August, which was linked to several drownings, including the five deaths at Camber Sands. Opportunities to see Opportunities to see (OTS) is defined as the potential total of readers/viewers/ listeners that might see each article. This means that if, for example, an article appears in The Telegraph, BBC Online and Radio 4, OTS would count the reader/viewer/listener three times. From 1 January to 31 December, lifeguard coverage provided over 607.5 million (607,527,498) OTS. Advertising value equivalent It is notoriously difficult to accurately calculate the equivalent monetary value of PR and communications compared with paid-for advertising. Although the advertising value equivalent (AVE) is a crude measurement, it does provide a useful benchmark. From 1 January to 31 December, the advertising value of the 1,928 items of lifeguard coverage was estimated at 6.5 million. Photo: RNLI Photo: RNLI Photo: RNLI Photo: RNLI 13
News RNLI lifeguards were involved in more than 17,000 incidents and aided more than 20,500 people. The role of RNLI lifeguards in rescue and prevention, raising awareness and funds has been reported in the news. Here is just a snapshot of their activity. 13 May Off-duty RNLI lifeguard rescues teenage bodyboarder A senior RNLI lifeguard on the Causeway Coast was cycling home when he saw two teenagers on bodyboards. Knowing the dangers of the water in that area and seeing how far out they were, he sensed they might come into difficulty. He advised their parents on the shore to wave them back in. One of the bodyboarders struggled so the off-duty lifeguard grabbed a rescue board from the lifeguard unit and pulled the bodyboarder out of the water. 26 May Two swimmers caught in strong rip current 1 June 18 July Lifeguards at Boscombe rescue 16 paddleboarders Quick-thinking lifeguards from Boscombe beach put their training to the test when 16 paddleboarders found themselves in difficulty. A strong wind caused the paddleboarders to drift out to sea and they were struggling to paddle back in. The lifeguards launched their rescue watercraft and were able to ferry the paddleboarders in pairs back to the beach on the craft. Two bodyboarders trapped on rocks When two bodyboarders were trapped on the rocks 500m offshore at Whiterocks beach, RNLI lifeguards launched their rescue watercraft. Heavy swell meant it was impossible to get the craft close to the bodyboarders. With waves breaking over their heads, the lifeguards waited for a lull in the set before one jumped in the water and swam to the rocks. He retrieved each man to the watercraft before they returned back to shore. Photo: RNLI 21 July Five rescued from car in Fife Five people were assisted by lifeguards at Burntisland in Fife when their car fell from the promenade into the water. Two lifeguards were first on the scene and helped free one man from the vehicle and onto a rescue board. Once all the casualties were safe, lifeguards assessed their condition. One of the casualties was given oxygen due to concerns about her rate of breathing and one casualty had a leg injury treated. 24 August Drifting teenagers rescued off Swansea beach Despite a red flag being raised at Langland Bay and lifeguards advising three teenagers not to enter the water with their surf and bodyboards, they did anyway. Before long they were being swept away from the beach by a rip current and strong winds. A lifeguard paddled 300m out to the boys and brought them onto the rescue board and returned them to shore. 24 August RNLI lifeguards assist 91-year-old with suspected stroke Lifeguards at Roker beach were quick to attend the scene of a distressed elderly lady on the promenade who was suspected to have had a stroke. After an assessment the lifeguards administered oxygen and placed the lady into the recovery position. They carefully monitored her condition and kept her stable until the paramedics arrived when they then carried her on a stretcher into the ambulance. 23 September Paddle do nicely! lifeguard crosses channel in just 5 hours Photo: RNLI While carrying out lookout patrols, RNLI lifeguards at Whitsand Bay spotted two swimmers in a rip current. The lifeguards quickly swam out with a rescue tube to the swimmers in trouble and they were all picked up by the inshore rescue boat from Tregonhawke and taken to shore. Photo: RNLI Photo: RNLI An RNLI lifeguard supervisor from Anglia crossed the English Channel in an amazing 5 hours using just a paddleboard and the power of his arms. Nick Ayers did the challenge to raise money for the RNLI and raised around 1,000 after paddling from Dungeness to Boulogne. 14
Casualty care in action Norfolk lifeguards treat man with suspected heart attack On the last Tuesday in August 2016, lifeguards on a north Norfolk beach were alerted by a young boy to his father who he suspected of having a heart attack. On arrival, lifeguards assessed the man was in cardiac arrest and immediately started chest compressions. Prompt arrival of the lifeguard defibrillator allowed them to successfully shock and bring the man back to full level of consciousness, 15 minutes after he had gone into cardiac arrest. Lifeguards continued post-resuscitation care with assistance from an off-duty paramedic and nurse until the air ambulance arrived. They then helped to clear the landing zone for the helicopter before assisting in evacuating the casualty onto the helicopter. Rob Willmore, RNLI Senior Lifeguard, said: I m very proud of the lifeguards whose extensive casualty care training immediately kicked in and provided the man with immediate lifesaving interventions. Without this high-quality medical care and the rapid recognition of cardiac arrest, and early call for help from the young boy, his father may not have survived. Many people are unaware that lifeguards perform lifesaving work not only in the water but also on the beach in our role as first responders for all medical emergencies, both major and minor. All RNLI lifeguards are highly trained in casualty care, which is a form of advanced first aid. The remoteness of the north Norfolk coast and the nature of the environment we work within often makes it inaccessible to road ambulances hence the lifeguards provide a vital role in the immediate response to look after injured or ill casualties until further help arrives. Photo: RNLI 15
RNLI lifeguards respond to a diabetic woman Lifeguard Jack Bancroft was first to respond to an incident at about 4.20pm on a mid-summer Friday after a member of the public alerted lifeguards to a woman. She was suffering a hypoglycemic episode on the beach, west of the RNLI lifeguard unit. The woman, who was with two children at the time, was unconscious when Jack first arrived on scene but soon after was drifting in and out of consciousness and was able to communicate that she was diabetic. By this time an ambulance had been called and fellow Lifeguard Methan Ratnakumar had arrived to support with the woman s treatment. The lifeguards administered oxygen and gave the woman glucose gel, but her condition worsened and she was placed into the recovery position and monitored until paramedics arrived and took over her treatment. They were able to give further treatment to the woman, who recovered quickly and was able to walk to the waiting ambulance a short time later. Photo: RNLI/Chris Rigby Photo: RNLI/Adrian Don RNLI lifeguards attend two multi-agency rescue operations Just after 5pm on 18 August, lifeguards received a call alerting them to an incident at Browns Bay where a person had fallen from the cliffs onto the lower promenade. RNLI Lifeguard Tom Steedman responded immediately and his colleagues Phil Richie and Matthew Dunn also attended in the inshore rescue boat. The lifeguards carried out a casualty care check on the male teenager and they kept him in a stable condition until paramedics arrived. An off-duty RNLI lifeboat crew member also helped. The casualty was then transferred to the air ambulance in a joint operation involving RNLI lifeguards, fire service, police and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade. This operation was highly specialised and involved extracting the teenager around the side of the cliffs to a safe point of clear grass at the top. While this incident was unfolding, at around 5.45pm, RNLI Lifeguards Jasmine Spokes and Cara Singleton spotted a man who had fallen on rocks near the lifeguard unit at Cullercoats. They performed a casualty care assessment, administered oxygen and monitored his breathing before handing him over to paramedics. He was then airlifted (pictured left) to hospital by a coastguard rescue helicopter. RNLI Lifeguard Manager Carl Harris said: Both casualties received swift and effective treatment, which is testament to the seamless teamwork demonstrated by the agencies involved. All RNLI lifeguards receive comprehensive casualty care training as part of the role and this vital training ensured that our lifeguards remained calm under pressure. 16
RNLI lifeguarded beaches 2016 Photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard 17
Newquay and Padstow, Carrick and Kerrier, and Penwith 18
North Cornwall and North Devon, and South Devon 19
Dorset and Jersey 20
Ramsgate (Thanet) and Chichester 21
East Lindsey and Norfolk 22
Scotland and Boldon 23
Scarborough Redcar Redcar and Cleveland Saltburn Redcar and Cleveland Sandsend Scarborough Key: RNLI lifeguard management area Beach name Local authority/beach owner Whitby Scarborough South Bay Scarborough North Bay Scarborough Cayton Bay Scarborough Filey Scarborough Belvedere East Riding Limekiln Lane East Riding Bridlington North East Riding Bridlington South East Riding Hornsea East Riding Prestatyn Denbighshire Rhyl Denbighshire Southport Sefton Ainsdale Sefton Formby Sefton Crosby Sefton Sefton and Wirral New Brighton (Perch Rock) Wirral The Plateaux Wirral Harrison Drive Wirral Moreton Wirral West Kirby Wirral Withernsea East Riding Sefton and Wirral, and Scarborough 24
West Wales and South Wales 25
Northern Ireland Downhill Strand Causeway Coast and Glens Whiterocks Causeway Coast and Glens Ballycastle Causeway Coast and Glens Portrush East Strand Causeway Coast and Glens Portrush West Strand Causeway Coast and Glens Portrush West Harbour Causeway Coast and Glens Portstewart Strand National Trust Castlerock Causeway Coast and Glens Benone Strand Causeway Coast and Glens Northern Ireland Key: RNLI lifeguard management area Beach name Local authority/beach owner Tyrella Newry City, Mourne and Down District Murlough Newry City, Mourne and Down District Cranfield Newry City, Mourne and Down District 26
Royal National Lifeboat Institution West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ Telephone: 0845 122 6999 (UK) 1800 789589 (RoI) RNLI.org Email: info@rnli.org.uk Cover photo: RNLI/Nigel Millard The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Registered charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland 27