RNLI Bridlington RNLI issues safety advice as temperatures continue to rise

Temperatures are expected to cool as we head into the Early May Bank Holiday weekend, but the lifesaving charity expects to still see an increase in visitors at the coast.

For those who find themselves in trouble in the water, the charity is encouraging them to use the Float to Live technique to help ensure they stay safe. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Nick Ayers RNLI regional Water Safety lead said: ‘We are expecting the coast to be extremely busy with this burst of warm weather. We want everyone to enjoy being around the water, but we also want to make sure people stay safe and know what to do in an emergency.

‘Always visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. 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, once you are through the initial shock, call for help to or swim to safety if you can. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

When entering the water, it’s important to remember to acclimatise slowly to avoid cold water shock.

If you do get in trouble in the water, Float to Live: Tilt your head back with ears submerged.

· Relax and try to control your breathing 

· Use your hands to help you stay afloat 

· It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently

 https://rnli.org/safety/float

Bridlington RNLI on the East Yorkshire Coast added, when walking around the coast remember to check the tide times, carry a means for calling for help, ideally in a waterproof pouch and keep dogs on leads. Avoid taking pictures on cliff edges too and stay safe by not jumping into cold water from rocks or piers (Tombstoning).

The lifesaving charity’s lifeboats based across the UK and Ireland remain on service 24/7, 365 days a year.

Notes to editors

Interviews with RNLI spokespeople available, please use contact details below.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has released its rescue figures for 2024, revealing its lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year – more than one life saved for every day of the year.

RNLI lifeboats launched 9,141 times in 2024 and helped 17,068 people.

The charity’s lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year*

RNLI data – captured between January and December 2024 – highlights the continuing high demand for the services of volunteer lifeboat crews, with 9,141 lifeboat launches over the course of the year, and 17,068 people helped out of dangerous situations at the coast. RNLI lifeboat crews saved the lives of 352 people over the course of 2024, whilst the charity’s lifeguards saved 85 lives on beaches around the UK, assisting over 17,000 more.

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

RNLI Media contacts For more information please telephone Mike Milner, Bridlington RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07751-054052 or email [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.