Tag: summer

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

Summer festival safety advice

images[2]It may be last thing festival-goers think about before heading off to party, but take some good advice from the professionals: 

NHS 24’s Medical Director, Professor George Crooks, OBE, is urging music lovers going to T in the Park this weekend to think ahead and look after their health.

Professor Crooks said: “Summer festivals are great places to meet people and enjoy music with friends but try and remember to pack a few small items with you in case you do become unwell. Take some over the counter medication with you for stomach upsets or diarrhoea and take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. It is also really important to have sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and antiseptic hand gel is always handy to have at outdoor events.

 “Plan ahead and take some condoms with you to protect you from sexually transmitted infections. Also tampons, wet wipes and hay fever medication – if you are a sufferer – will always come in handy over the weekend. Don’t forget to take your asthma inhaler or any prescription medicine you need with you and keep it handy.”

Festival goers are reminded not to ruin the weekend for themselves and others by drinking far too much too quickly. Try alternating soft drinks or water for alcoholic ones on a regular basis over the day and don’t forget to eat regularly. You don’t want to miss out on seeing your favourite bands by feeling unwell with the effects of too much alcohol.

Professor Crooks advised: If youdo become ill, go with a friend to the nearest First Aid area. Remember there is safety in numbers. Never leave your drink unattended, never leave friends on their own and don’t wander off by yourself. Organise a meeting point if you get split up and stay with people you know.“

By taking simple steps, you can help minimise or even prevent minor health problems from ruining your weekend. Stay safe and have a happy and healthy time at T in the Park.

For further summer health advice go towww.nhsinform.co.uk

 

And Police Scotland reinforce the safety message:

Keeping your valuables safe

Make sure you know where your valuables are at all times. Leave anything you can do without at home. Do you really need to take an expensive camera. iPod, iPad or MP3 player with you? If you do have to take them, make good use of locker facilities if they are available at the festival site, knowing your valuables are safe inside will give you peace of mind. If you need to carry them, secure your valuables in a zipped or fastened pocket. Pickpockets often use the cover of large crowds to commit crime so be vigilant.

Mobile phones

Keep your mobile phone safe and charged up, most festival sites provide facilities to charge your phone. Before you go to the festival, make sure it’s registered with your network operator. Keep a separate note of your phone’s unique IMEI number. Ensure your phone has a ‘Find Me’ Application installed that can remotely show the location of the device should it be stolen and know how to remotely lock the phone.

Input an ICE – In Case of Emergency – contact number into your phone before you go, should you become unwell or unable to use your phone the emergency services will be able to contact a nominated person on your behalf.

Tickets and Money

Keep your cash and cards in two places on you, for example, some in your purse/wallet and the rest in a zipped pocket. If you lose some money, you will still have the rest, likewise for your ticket, it can be devastating and will end your weekend if it is lost or stolen. Keep it safe.

Camping

Tents can be easily entered as they generally have few security features. Please make an effort to take valuables with you when you leave your tent, again make good use of locker facilities to keep valuables secure. Introduce yourself to the people camping nearby and/or regular campsite staff. This will enable you and others to quickly identify anyone unfamiliar hanging around your campsite, although don’t be tempted to trust your valuables with people that you don’t know.

Padlocks on your tent zips can often draw more attention to your tent and give potential thieves the impression that you have valuables inside. A determined criminal will get into your tent whether you use a padlock or not, so the best advice is to take your valuable items with you when you leave your campsite.

Personal Safety

When you arrive at the festival site, or ideally before you go, make sure you know how you can report any suspicious or criminal behaviour on site. If you become a victim or witness anything criminal, report it immediately to Police, site staff or a steward. You may not want to get involved, but think about what you’d like someone else to do if it was happening to you or your property.

Get to know your surroundings, when you arrive, make sure you know exactly where your camping area is and how to find it. Identify a landmark nearby or memorise the campsite’s name and check where the nearest first aid and fire safety points are.

When it gets dark, try to use main thoroughfares and well-lit areas of the site and stay with your friends, you can explore the darker, quieter areas during the day.

If you require regular medication, make sure you have enough with you and keep it safe in a locker. Be prepared for all types of weather, sunscreen, midge repellent, welly boots and waterproofs may all be required.

Know your limits

Remember; alcohol can impair your judgement and coupled with darkness and unfamiliar surroundings can make you more vulnerable. Drink in moderation, sip on non-alcoholic drinks in between drinks, stick with the people you know and look after your friends. Don’t go off on your own with people you don’t know or have just met.

Drugs

Possession of controlled drugs and supplying anyone else with drugs is illegal. Festivals organisers adopt a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs and work alongside the police to tackle this criminal activity. If you are caught you will be prosecuted, don’t take the chance.

New Psychoactive Substances

These substances are known by a variety of names and have been talked about in newspapers and on the TV regularly during the last 12 months. The term ‘New Psychoactive Substance’ originates from the European Union and relates to new drugs that are made by mixing chemicals. The common street name you will have heard is Legal Highs.

Calling these substances Legal Highs is confusing it suggests that they are safe and always legal they are not.

There is no way of knowing what chemicals are in these substances or how unwell they might make you feel or what effect they will have on your body.

Some NPS are described as being ‘herbal’ with claims that they are naturally occurring or grown. The reality is often they are no more than plant material which are sprayed or soaked in a chemical solution. As with all NPS unless you have access to a laboratory it cannot be said with any certainty what they contain.

Generally they come as white powder, or a variety of different coloured tablets, they can also be available as small capsules similar in size to normal medication. The packaging can be colourful and attractive with hundreds of different names such as Mind Candy, Gogaine, Super Doves and Diablo. To hide what is in it the packaging often has small print on it with phrases such as Research Chemical, Not For Human Consumption, Bath Salts, Plant Food and Novelty Collectors Item

Research by Government scientists has shown that some of these substances actually contain harmful chemicals and controlled drugs that mean that you might even get a criminal record if caught by the Police if in possession of these. Like other controlled drugs these powders and tablets can be mixed with other substances to make it look like you are getting more. These mixers are known as adulterants and can be substances such as benzocaine, used by dentists, creatine, used by body builders and caffeine, found in energy drinks.

In the short term they can affect different people in different ways. More and more people are going to hospital after taking these substances with specific symptoms such as nose bleeds, bleeding tongues, sickness and diahorrea, black outs, short term memory loss, panic attacks and severe mood swings: some NPS may have been responsible for deaths.

So get the message – have fun, but stay safe!

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