North West lifeguards gear up for busiest summer yet

Lifeguards along the North West coast are preparing for their busiest summer yet, as around 30 million people are expected to visit the UK coast.

In a national survey commissioned by the RNLI, 75% of 16 to 64-year-olds said they plan to visit a beach between April and September.

Around half of the those plan to visit the coast three or more times, and 36% said they also plan to go more than usual this year, compared to 24% in 2020.

The results have been revealed as the RNLI and HM Coastguard launches their joint beach safety campaign.

Last year more than 15 million visitors were recorded on RNLI lifeguard-patrolled beaches, and due to the uncertainty around foreign travel and people opting for staycations, the RNLI is predicting this summer will be the busiest ever.

Chris Cousens, Regional Water Safety Lead for the North West, said it's important to follow safety guidance:

"Regardless of whether you're at a lifeguarded beach there are certain things you can do to keep your loved ones safe at the beach. Look out for safety signage and seek advice on safe places to swim, don't be afraid to ask. The tide comes in and out in a lot of places a lot more quickly than you might expect there might be rip currents that you might be unaware of.

Chris added a lot of the serious incidents they attend to involve cold water shock after people have fallen into open water and said learning their float to live technique can be life saving: "Your natural instinct when you're suffering cold water shock is to panic, thrash about and that can be the most dangerous thing to do. Take 30-90 seconds, float on your back, keep your arms and legs spread, keep your airway clear out of the water and that just allows you a little bit if time to acclimatise to regain your composure and then you're in a better position to take the next step after that, whether that's swimming to safety for calling for help."

In 2020, RNLI lifeguards saved 110 lives across the country, helped 25,172 people, responded to 10,687 incidents and made more than 2.2 million preventative actions.

Claire Hughes, Director of HM Coastguard, said:

"2020 was an exceptionally busy year and we’re expecting more people to take their holidays around our wonderful coasts this summer.

"We’re asking everyone to follow a few simple safety tips, so the trip is memorable for all the right reasons.

"Before setting out, take a minute to check the weather, tides and winds to help avoid getting caught out.

"Leave inflatables at home as they are designed for the pool, not open water, where the wind and current can very quickly take you out to sea and into danger.

"Recreational watersports such as paddleboarding are now incredibly popular and we’d encourage everyone to make it a fun rather than frightening experience. It pays to prepare and taking a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch when you set out for a paddle will mean you can call for help if needed.

"If you or someone else is in trouble, always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

You can find your nearest lifeguarded beach on the RNLI's website.