Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside
Summer is drawing ever nearer, and with beach holidays as popular as ever I thought I’d highlight the unsung heroes who keep us safe and help us out at a moment’s notice when we’re enjoying the delights of the seaside.
The Coastguard is the first port of call for anyone in trouble at sea, often acting as a switchboard for other services. They have a couple of helicopters for daring air-rescues such as one I witnessed where the helicopter crew rescued someone who had got stuck half way down a cliff!
by mitchyk
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution rescues people who get into trouble at sea. The RNLI is run on donations and its volunteers are unpaid, which makes it all the more remarkable that these brave people save an average of 22 people every day. Rescue boats range from small to large and they operate out of 235 stations across the country.
by JD Mack
Lifeguards patrol most popular beaches in the UK from May until October, working from 10am to 6pm. Often dressed in red and yellow, you can see the safe bathing area marked by red and yellow flags. Whenever these are up, lifeguards will be on patrol and ready to wade in to help anyone who gets into trouble off the shore. When a red flag is flying it means that the sea is dangerous and there may not be anyone on patrol.
Top photo by junCTtions
