Tag: RNLI

SFRS issues frozen water warning

THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is warning communities across Scotland to stay clear of frozen water as temperatures drop. The national service is urging the public to be aware of the risks of going onto or allowing children and pets to go onto the ice. 

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, more than 50 per cent of all drowning cases involving ice in the UK involved the attempted rescue of another person or a pet. 

And SFRS is warning that while ice can look and feel solid, it can suddenly crack and cause a person to fall through and potentially become trapped under the ice. 

DACO Alasdair Perry is SFRS’ Head of Prevention and Protection. 

He said: “We would ask everyone to be aware of the dangers of ice during this cold snap and strongly advise against walking or playing on any iced-up waterways and always ensure that children are kept away from any iced over ponds or rivers.

“If you are out with your pet, do not throw sticks or balls near frozen water, and if they do get into trouble on the ice, do not venture onto the ice yourself to attempt a rescue – dial 999.

“The ice may look solid, but it is not worth the risk to step out on to it.”

The low temperature of the water can also bring on cold-water shock, which can be potentially deadly. 

Cold-water shock can cause breathing difficulties, blood vessels to close, the heart-rate to increase and lead to a heart attack. 

Michael Avril is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Regional Water Safety Lead for Scotland. He said: “Walking on ice is extremely risky and unpredictable and the RNLI advise that you avoid doing this. If you do fall through, the freezing water temperatures can bring on cold water shock.  

“If you find yourself or someone else in trouble, dial 999 and ask for the fire service immediately. Do not attempt to rescue anyone yourself.”

For more information on Cold Water Shock please visit the RNLI website at https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock 

For more information on how to stay safe around frozen water, visit https://www.rlss.org.uk/winter-water-safety or https://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water/advice/ice.aspx 

SFRS’ Top Tips to stay safe around water: 

  • Nobody should walk onto any frozen water, whether a river, pond, canal, or reservoir under any situation. Children and pets are particularly at risk when tempted to play on the ice formed on open water during cold weather. 
  • Pets should be kept on leads when near frozen water and owners should refrain from throwing objects onto ice for them to retrieve. 
  • If the worst happens, passers-by should shout reassurance to casualties without endangering themselves. Make sure help is on the way by phoning the emergency services on 999, don’t assume someone else will have called. 
  • Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue and do not get into the water, or you may become the next casualty. 
  • If someone can’t climb out of the water, it is not advisable, as many people think to move about in the water to keep warm while waiting for help. Instead, they should conserve their energy by keeping as still as possible. 

Beware rising tides at Cramond

The rising tide times around Cramond Island this weekend will mean RNLI are likely to see calls to help walkers cut off by the tide.

Two weekends ago, the volunteers at Queensferry RNLI were call out three times (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) to evacuate stranded walkers.

The causeway leading to and from Cramond Island will be unsafe to use at points throughout the weekend.

If you’re fortunate enough to live nearby and decide to walk across for your essential exercise, plan ahead before you go to reduce the risk of being cut off by the rising water.

  • Check the forecast and tide times before you go
  • Let someone know where you’re going & when you’ll return
  • Take a fully charged phone
  • In an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard

Cramond Island walkers urged to beware of high tides this weekend

The RNLI are warning those who live near to Cramond Island and planning a walk across this weekend to be aware of the high spring tides that may cut off your path on the tidal causeway.

Spring tides happen every lunar month throughout the year without regard to the season. During this time the earth, sun and moon are lined up in a row which results in a higher swell.  This makes the high tides higher and the low tides lower than other days throughout the month.

The next high spring tides will start today (Friday 15 January) and continue throughout the weekend. This means the danger of being cut off by the fast-rising tide while walking to or from Cramond Island is higher than usual.

Current Scottish Government guidance allows for exercise that starts and finishes at the same place, providing you remain within your local authority area. This means that people living near to Cramond may decide to choose this option for essential exercise, but the RNLI are urging those people to consider the unusually large tides expected this weekend.

The island is popular with walkers who take the opportunity to venture across at low water. When the tide rises, under-prepared walkers can find themselves stranded. Over the last two months, the volunteer crew at Queensferry RNLI have been called to evacuate a total of nine people and two dogs who found themselves cut off by the tide.

To avoid this happening over the weekend, the lifesaving charity are asking walkers to check the tide times before crossing.

Michael Avril, RNLI Regional Water Safety Lead for Scotland said: ‘Our volunteers remain on call, ready to respond, but the need for our help can be avoided if walkers plan ahead by checking the tide times before setting off.

Spring tides will make the high tides higher and they will also come in quicker. The danger in this is that people can get cut off quicker without even realising until it’s too late.’ 

To check the safest times to cross, text CRAMOND to 81400 or visit: https://www.queensferrylifeboat.co.uk/cramond-tides

The coast is a dangerous and unpredictable place and Michael urges those who intend to walk this weekend to act before you go to get the necessary help to you if needed.

He said: ‘Accidents happen, and it is important that you are able to call for help if you need it. If you find yourself or spot others in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard straight away. Stay calm and don’t try and wade through the water as this could be dangerous.’

For more information of how to stay safe at the coast, please visit the RNLI website: www.rnli.org.uk

Coastguard safety tips

PoliceScotland works extremely closely with HM Coastguard to jointly keep people safe on our coastline and beaches.

Ssee some safety tips (below) from our Coastguard colleagues on how to keep safe this summer:

Check the weather forecast & tide times
Read local hazard signs
Leave inflatables at home – as they can very easily drift out to sea
Keep a close eye on your family
Have a fully charged mobile phone
Have a meeting place if you get separated

Lastly – consider taking a photo of your family or group at the start of your seaside day. Should a family member go missing, you will have an up-to-date photo including an accurate clothing description.

In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard

#WaterSafety
#999Coastguard
#BeBeachSafe
#FloatToLive
#RespectTheWater
Maritime and Coastguard Agency

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Her Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard are urging every parent to be aware of the potential dangers of rip currents to be beach safe.

RNLI lifeguards can't be everywhere this summer; protect your family, follow safety advice, save lives.
Be beach safe this summer

On Sunday 26 July, seven people, including five teenagers were lucky to be rescued after being caught in a strong, fast moving current in Wales.

And at the start of the month, RNLI lifeguards leapt to the rescue of 12 unsuspecting bathers who were swept off their feet by a rip current into rough seas at a beach in Cornwall.

Last year, RNLI lifeguards dealt with more than 1,500 incidents involving rip currents, saving the lives of 95 people caught in them.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI Head of Water Safety, said: ‘Our coastline is a fantastic place to spend time together as a family but there are also plenty of potential dangers, especially for those who aren’t fully aware of their surroundings.

‘The main one is rip currents which cause most incidents in the water that RNLI lifeguards deal within the UK.’

‘We are seeing a spike in incidents this summer involving these potentially deadly currents, which move even faster than an Olympic swimmer and can quickly drag people into deep water a long way from the shore.

‘It’s important that anybody venturing in or near the sea knows, not just what rip currents are, but how to react if they are caught in one or see someone else in trouble.

‘They are difficult to spot and even the most experienced and strongest swimmers can find themselves caught out so it’s important where possible to use beaches that have lifeguards patrolling on them.’

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, try to remember the following key safety advice:

  • Don’t try to swim against it, you will quickly get exhausted.
  • If you can stand, wade don’t swim.
  • If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore.
  • If you can’t swim – FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing.
  • Always raise your hand and shout for help.
  • If you see anyone else in trouble, alert the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

Off-duty Aberdovey lifeboat crew member Arwel Jones was one of those who sprang into action on Sunday afternoon after his wife spotted two teenagers struggling in the water.

Together with some lifeguard friends and former lifeboat crew who happened to be wind and kitesurfing, they pulled seven people to safety.

‘They were just so lucky the right people happened to be in the right place at the right time,’ said Arwel. ‘There was even a doctor on the beach by chance, when we got them out of the water.

‘It’s a scary thought but a few seconds here or there and it could have been a very different outcome.’

While rip currents are not the only danger at the coast with tidal cut-offs and inflatables also the cause of many emergency calls, they make up the majority of incidents in the water for RNLI lifeguards and are a major cause of accidental drowning across the world.

The RNLI and Coastguard strongly advise against taking inflatables to the beach and urge people to be aware of the tide times and local hazards to avoid getting into trouble.

Director of HM Coastguard Claire Hughes said: ‘We’ve seen so many times how easy it is to get caught out by the sea.

‘That is why it is important to swim or bodyboard on lifeguarded beaches, stay within your depth, swim parallel to the shore and keep a close eye on friends and family at the beach and in the water.

‘Make sure you are always contactable at the coast by carrying a fully-charged mobile phone and if you get into trouble or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

For further information on the beach safety campaign visit: rnli.org/beach2020

A full list of lifeguarded beaches can be found here: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

RNLI plans to provide reduced lifeguard service on beaches this summer

Despite the challenges of the coronavirus outbreak, the RNLI hopes to provide a lifeguard service on around 30% of the beaches the charity usually covers this summer, if government guidance allows. 

Rollout of the normal seasonal lifeguard service was paused at the end of March due to the measures put in place by the UK Government to control the spread of Coronavirus.

In the anticipation that there may be changes to the lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks and months allowing the public to visit beaches around the UK and Channel Islands, the RNLI has been looking at plans to resume a lifeguard service where possible.

This needs to be consistent with government guidance but the plan is for the service to build in time so that lifeguard patrols reach 70 beaches by peak season. Beaches will be chosen based on risk and popularity. The RNLI will also look to achieve a geographical spread while making sure the service provided is flexible and sustainable enough to respond to what may be an ever-changing environment.

RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, said: ‘The RNLI is incredibly proud of its highly skilled lifeguards who work alongside the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews, HM Coastguard and other emergency services.

“RNLI lifeguards are professional lifesavers and will be essential when the lockdown is lifted and people head to our coastlines and enjoy our beautiful beaches.

‘The current situation means that the operational logistics and training behind setting up a lifeguard service – normally in full swing at the moment – have had to stop. Re-establishing this infrastructure and distributing equipment to beaches will take time. And we must also make sure that conditions are safe for our lifeguards to provide an effective service – our priority remains the safety of our people and the public.

‘But despite these challenges, and given enough notice of lockdown lifting, we’re hoping to put lifeguard patrols on around 70 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands.

‘We are planning for a service that we can adapt to changes in Government guidelines and restrictions. We don’t know whether people will be allowed to visit beaches, what social distancing restrictions will be in place, or whether we’ll have periods where restrictions are relaxed and then reintroduced.

“We’re also looking at how we provide our lifeguard service – we may have a more agile service that can adapt to changing circumstances – so it may look a little different to previous years. And we’re working with local councils, landowners and partners to make sure the environment lifeguards return to is safe and appropriate precautions are in place.

‘While the main challenge of rolling out a lifeguard service will be logistical, as a charity we do also need to consider the financial challenge we currently face and our fall in income due to restrictions on how we can fundraise.

‘The reduced lifeguard service will continue to be supported by our lifeboat stations around the coast. Our lifeboat volunteers have been on call 24/7 to help those in trouble at sea throughout the coronavirus outbreak – and will continue to be so this summer.

“We will also be giving water safety advice throughout the summer. During the coronavirus outbreak we have seen great examples of people coming together, so our focus is to work with the public to succeed in ensuring the coast is a safe place to visit when restrictions are lifted.’

The RNLI is urging everyone to follow current Government instructions until these restrictions are lifted. The guidance is clear: stay home, protect frontline workers and save lives. While you are allowed outside for daily exercise, we do not recommend that this exercise is on or in the sea.

If you are able to visit the coast for your daily exercise, while adhering to Government advice, we urge you to remember the following RNLI safety advice:

  • Take care near cliffs – know your route and your limitations
  • Check the weather forecast and tide times
  • If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float
  • In any coastal emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard

Scottish RNLI Lifeboat Station to receive charity’s first sea-going Memorial

Invergordon’s new Shannon class lifeboat is set to host the names of thousands of people being commemorated by loved ones in the RNLI’s new and unique memorial.

The name of each person being remembered will be featured within the lifeboat’s letters and numbers, or decal, displayed on the lifeboat’s hull. Continue reading Scottish RNLI Lifeboat Station to receive charity’s first sea-going Memorial

Edinburgh kids take part in biggest ever water safety lesson

THOUSANDS of young swimmers in Edinburgh are to get a lesson covering self-rescue and life-saving skills in the largest coordinated water safety lesson ever seen in Scotland. Continue reading Edinburgh kids take part in biggest ever water safety lesson

RNLI Beer Launch!

St Andrews Brewing Company have announced the release of their newest beer, Above & Beyond, specially brewed in order to raise money for the RNLI. Ten pence from every pint sold and 5p from every can will be donated to the lifesaving charity.

The beer was launched at the RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Open Day on Saturday. Continue reading RNLI Beer Launch!