The RNLI in Scotland recognises volunteers this World Drowning Prevention Day

Vince McWhirter has been on the volunteer crew at Troon RNLI Lifeboat Station for the last 20 years, as well as the volunteer Water Safety Officer for the station over the last 6 years. He is also the Outdoor Activities Development Officer at The Outdoor Partnership in Ayrshire.

In 2024, Vince, alongside South Ayrshire Council, initiated a windsock project in Ayrshire with the aim to reduce the number of paddleboard rescues at local beaches.

Vince began working to improve public awareness of wind direction – particularly the dangers of offshore winds and the risk of being blown out to sea – after noticing a rise in the number of RNLI rescues to paddleboarders.

He says: ‘I contacted South Ayrshire Council and proposed they fund windsocks at key beaches. Using RNLI “shout” maps from Troon and Girvan RNLI lifeboats, which highlighted frequent call-out locations near the shore, I helped persuade the council to support windsock installations along the coast, including Troon, Prestwick, Ayr, Maidens, and Girvan.’

At present, there are currently three windsocks which have been installed on Troon beaches, with additional installations planned throughout the summer. These are accompanied by safety signage designed to educate the public about offshore winds and the associated risks.

What’s more, he also initiated a stand-up paddling safety programme between 2021 and 2025.

He adds: ‘In 2020, lifeboat callouts surged across the UK, including Troon, due to people on inflatable SUPs and other craft being blown out to sea by offshore winds and falling tides. I quickly recognised that many newcomers to the sport lacked essential knowledge about wind, tides, currents, self-rescue, and safety equipment like buoyancy aids and leashes.

‘Although not a SUP instructor myself, I collaborate closely with outdoor professionals. Concerned by the risks, I sought funding from a local Ayrshire charity and partnered with Craig Lawless of Adventure Paddle Co. Together, we launched a SUP safety training course in summer 2021—before the official Paddle UK SUP Safer course was introduced in 2022.

‘Since then, we’ve delivered the SUP Safer course annually across Ayrshire, reaching hundreds of participants, including families and young people. The four-hour certified course focuses on four key areas: SUP equipment, environment and weather, planning, and on-water safety—empowering paddlers to make informed decisions and stay safe.’

The courses lead to an evaluation and impact report being produced by the SUP instructor in 2023/2024. The impact report highlights a 90% drop in lifeboat call outs across Ayrshire to SUP paddlers after 4 years of regular SUP safer courses.

Michael Avril, Water Safety Lead for the RNLI in Scotland says: ‘Thanks to initiatives like Vince’s in Ayrshire, we can help to save lives at sea, which has been the charity’s aim for the last 200 years.

‘This World Drowning Prevention Day, we want to remind everyone that visiting a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags can make a lifesaving difference. We know the coast is going to be incredibly busy over the summer holidays and we want everyone to enjoy their time but to also remember our vital safety advice.

‘If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can. It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

Many RNLI lifeboat stations across the country will support local organisations, events and schools by delivering Water Safety sessions, including at Longhope RNLI.

This month, volunteers from the Hoy-based lifeboat station visited North Walls Primary School to deliver an interactive water safety training session to pupils. 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.

What’s more, RNLI volunteers delivered water safety information at the SkiffieWorlds event in Stranraer this month, including hosting lifejacket clinics for competitors.

The SkiffieWorlds attracted thousands of people to the coastal town of Stranraer, so RNLI volunteers from across the region joined forces to deliver imperative water safety messaging to members of the public, including Float to Live and cold-water shock.

On the east coast ahead of the summer season, RNLI lifeguards delivered 118 ‘Meet the Lifeguard’ sessions to 94 different schools across Fife, Edinburgh and Dundee, reaching over 20,000 pupils. The sessions cover a number of water safety topics, including Float to Live and cold-water shock, to ensure pupils were aware of the dangers when visiting the coast this summer, whilst also getting to know their local RNLI lifeguards.

The National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) has revealed that young people are the most high-risk group for accidental drownings in the UK. According to the Water Incident Database (WAID), more than a quarter (26 per cent) of all accidental drowning deaths that occurred in the last five years (2020 to 2024 inclusive) were young people aged 10 to 291.

RNLI volunteers and representatives will be at the Water Safety Scotland World Drowning Prevention Day event at Loch Lomond Shores on Friday 25 July.

For more information about the Find Your Float campaign and World Drowning Prevention Day, visit respectthewater.com.