Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has worked with GoodSAM since 2018, helping to connect responders to patients in those critical moments when they are experiencing a medical emergency.
The partnership has now taken another step to help save even more lives within local communities by launching a new part of the GoodSAM app – to help support rescue efforts in water emergencies.
RLSS UK has worked with GoodSAM to further develop the app to not only include locations of those registered as responders on the app, but also lifesaving equipment in and around towns and cities, which can prove vital in rescuing someone who is in difficulty in the water.
An average of 308 UK and Irish citizens lose their lives to accidental drowning each year, with more people drowning inland than at the coast, so responders knowing exactly where water rescue equipment is vital.
Vicki Jones, the mother of student Tom Jones who sadly drowned in the River Severn in Worcester in 2018, has spoken of her support for the initiative: “This is a subject so close to my heart after losing Tom and we have been working with the Royal Life Saving Society UK. This is such a positive step to further raise awareness of the importance of water safety.
“Water rescue equipment can and does save lives. Every second is critical during a rescue; this map will help make communities safe and ensure the equipment is rescue-ready when needed. The app will enable everyone to get on board and play a part to ensure all water safety equipment is logged and to report it if missing or damaged.
“I will get involved and register water safety equipment when and where possible and I hope you will too.”
Various water rescue equipment is located along and near waterways, including lifebuoys and throw ropes, to help members of the public who find themselves in difficulty in the water get help as soon as possible.
However, RLSS UK and GoodSAM identified that not all first responders will be aware of where these vital pieces of equipment are located, especially when they are needed in an emergency.
The app will now allow members of the public to plot where pieces of equipment can be found to allow quick and easy access by first responders when they are needed.
As well as this, the app critically allows people to report if a piece of equipment is missing or damaged. This report on the GoodSAM app will then be sent to RLSS UK who will liaise with landowners and local authorities to rectify the issue and ensure the equipment can save lives if and when it is needed.
Professor Mark Wilson from GoodSAM said, “We are delighted for RLSS UK to be collaborating with us on the water rescue equipment map; they have been at the forefront of lifeguard training, lifesaving and water safety education for a very long time and by working together, we can build on the excellent work that they already do and make rivers, lakes and bodies of open water even safer for all.”
RLSS UK is encouraging its members, volunteers and lifesavers, as well as members of the public who have appropriate qualifications and knowledge, to register on the GoodSAM app to become a first responder.
As well as this, the charity and GoodSAM are asking members of the public to submit any water rescue equipment within their local community to ensure that it is logged on the app to help people when in need.
Nick Grazier, Senior Head of Commercial Projects & Partnerships at RLSS UK, said: “This map is a game-changer for open water rescue; not only does it support the emergency services and GoodSAM responders to assist in the case of an emergency, but with the opportunity for app users to report damaged or broken water rescue equipment, we can work with landowners and local authorities to ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose and rescue-ready.”
Jo Talbot, Commercial Director at RLSS UK, added, “We are incredibly proud to partner with GoodSAM and add to the vital work already achieved by the army of volunteers contributing worldwide.
“This type of project has been a desire for the charity for a long time, and it is so rewarding that it is coming to fruition.”
To find out more about how to register on the app and how to register water rescue equipment, visit www.rlss.org.uk/goodSAM.
If you would like to become a first responder, RLSS UK offers first aid qualifications and further details can be found on the RLSS UK website.
