RNLI RESPECT the WATER

Respect the Water is an RNLI campaign that puts drowning prevention at the heart of everything. By 2024 the RNLI aims to halve the average number of yearly coastal fatalities that happen as a result of accidents and natural causes. The starting point is 190, which is broken down as 165 in the UK (WAID analysis 2011-2015) and 25 in Ireland (Irish Water Safety Forum 2010-2013). This target does not currently include inland fatalities, or those as a result of suicide or crime. The RNLI are aiming to make it the nationally recognised water safety campaign in the UK and Republic of Ireland. By collaborating with the MNABC, the RNLI intends to extend the scheme to inland water ways as well. Full details are contained in the RNLI publication ‘COMMUNITY SAFETY - Key Message Booklet’ which can be read HERE Further information can be found here: https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water

• Advice Onboard (AOB) An AOB visit entails an open discussion with any boat user (sailing, kayaking, angling etc.) on how to use safety equipment, how to maintain it and how to plan for things that might go wrong out at sea. These visits take place wherever the users boat happens to be – a harbour, marina, boatyard or on the back of their trailer at home. • Lifejacket Clinics A lifejacket clinic can happen at a variety of locations, harbours and boat clubs. It provides users with a chance to bring their lifejackets along and for us to demonstrate how they should be worn, have them checked for faults, and what should be routinely checked on an on-going basis.. Over the years, on average, we find that 30% of inflatable lifejackets (automatic and manual) would not have worked if the wearer accidentally fell into the water. The cause of these failures is easily identified and often remedied. • Calling For Help’ Interactive discussion on emergency alerting This presentation is supported with a broad range of emergency alerting equipment including Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB’s), Personal Locator Beacons (PLB’s), Marine Band VHF Radio’s, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) Search & Rescue Transponders (SARTS), Distress Flares and Strobe lights etc. • Man Overboard (MOB) When asked about their experience of safety incidents, 1 in 8 people said that they had gone overboard while sailing a yacht. Why not arrange an interactive talk for your club to discuss the issues surrounding Man Overboard, its prevention and their recovery. An interactive presentation of about an hour’s duration on the cause, prevention, spotting and recovery of a Man Overboard for both yachts and motor cruisers. • HF SRC Refresher About 1 hour duration – a reminder of the fundamentals of using VHF Marine Radio for Distress, Urgency and Safety calling. It includes a short fun quiz and is fully interactive with the audience • Sea Survival Refresher About 1 hour duration - the theory of using lifejackets, life rafts, flares, VHF, PLB’s & EPIRBS, lifeboat and helicopter rescue. How to manoeuvre a boat to a casualty in the water.

Every lifeboat station has a complementary Water Safety Team involved in the design and implementation of a Community Lifesaving Plan. Each plan identifies the most popular water activities within a community so that relevant water safety advice can be given to those most at risk. As such, this is an ideal volunteer role for someone with an understanding of marine-based and waterside activity in the local area. Water Safety Officer Each Water Safety Team is led by a Water Safety Officer whose job is to oversee the preparation of the local Community Lifesaving Plan and to help and coordinate the Water Safety Advisers. Water Safety Advisers

Water Safety Advisers use their knowledge of local water activities, communication and people skills to deliver RNLI water safety advice to members of the community. They provide advice and guidance on a variety of safety topics including:

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