RNLI Unites with Yacht Club to Provide Water Safety Training
A water safety day at a Northumberland yacht club, supported by Cullercoats and Blyth RNLI, delivered vital lifesaving advice to its members on Saturday, with around 60 yacht sailors provided with survival tips, should they get into difficulty at sea.
The Royal Northumberland Yacht Club (RNYC) welcomed Cullercoats RNLI water safety officer Geoff Cowan to Blyth marina. Geoff, who has more than 50 years’ service with the RNLI, said, ‘we discussed scenarios where sailors may have to abandon ship into a life raft and gave them practical experience of doing so. We also provided guidance on calling for help, so they know who and how to call if they get into distress on the water and how to recover a person if they fall overboard.’
A lifejacket clinic was also held, where users were shown how to check this vital piece of equipment and ensure its seaworthiness.
Blyth RNLI volunteer crew members demonstrated the kit carried by the lifeboat, highlighting the ease with which those requiring assistance at sea can be located if they carry appropriate safety equipment. Geoff said, ‘Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and other satellite location devices enable search and rescue teams to locate casualties very quickly. In an emergency situation, every second can make a difference, so it’s vital that those going to sea make use of the technology available to them. It’s widely accessible, affordable and could save their life’.
Geoff added, ‘I’d like to thank the RNYC for welcoming us and hosting this important event. Raising awareness of what to do in an emergency situation is a key factor in helping the RNLI continue to save lives at sea.’
For further information please contact lifeboat press officer Sarah Whitelaw: [email protected]
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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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