North Walls Primary School welcomes volunteers from Longhope RNLI for water safe

The RNLI workshop is designed to give children the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe around water, whether they are at the coast or near rivers, canals, lakes, or reservoirs. The session also teaches children what to do, and what not to do, if they ever see someone in difficulty in the water.

Through a series of engaging, interactive tasks, children are introduced to the RNLI’s Water Safety Code which includes four key messages: Stop and Think, Stay Together, Float, and Call 999. These important steps help children understand how to keep themselves and others safe in and around water.

The children from North Walls School were enthusiastic and fully engaged throughout the session, sharing valuable observations and showing awareness of the issues. Growing up in a coastal community, many of the older children already had a good understanding of water safety. Nevertheless, all the children actively participated, asking and answering questions, practicing the vital Float to Live position for sea survival, and even rehearsing their shouts for help, which were loud enough to nearly blow the roof off! One thing is clear: our island children definitely know how to shout when it counts!

Throughout the workshop, the children worked towards earning the RNLI Water Safety Passport. As they completed each activity, they collected virtual stamps, and once all tasks were finished, each child received a certificate and a sticker to celebrate their learning and achievement.

The children clearly enjoyed the session as much as we did. Their feedback included reflections such as Elouisa, age 10, who said, ‘It was very cool to hear about the water safety and all my friends thought it was very important’. Seven-year-old Russell shared, ‘I knew about some of the stuff but not the stop and think’, while Thorfinn, also 7, commented, ‘I liked how we all got to learn to float to live and what to do at the pier’. Jack, age 12, summed it up by saying, ‘It is important for us all to understand what to do and what not to do if we get in trouble in the water’.

The workshop was delivered by Longhope RNLI’s volunteer Water Safety Officer, Deanna Johnston who was assisted by another volunteer from Longhope Lifeboat Guild, Kim Dobrzynski. Deanna reflected, ‘It was a real pleasure to deliver the water safety passport messaging to the children of North Walls School. Their contribution and interaction with the learning materials clearly demonstrated their understanding of this critical information which has been designed around keeping them safe and preventing incidents. They are a credit to their teachers and parents alike. Thank you for being so welcoming and working so hard during our sessions.’

Workshops like this are not just valuable for children, they serve as an important reminder to us all about how to stay safe around water. As we head into the summer months and spend more time by the sea, rivers, lochs, or reservoirs, it’s vital to remember the RNLI’s key safety messages: Stop and Think about the dangers before going near or into water, Stay Together with friends or family, never swimming alone, Float if you fall in, lie on your back and stay calm, and Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard if you see someone in trouble, rather than trying to rescue them yourself. These simple steps can make all the difference in an emergency. Knowing how to respond safely and calmly, whether you're in the water or witnessing someone else in difficulty, is knowledge that could save a life.

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)

RNLI media contacts

Vicky Mackinnon, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07703 688066, [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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.