Pupils to learn about beach safety

Friday 13th April 2012

School children are to be taught beach safety skills by lifeguards from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The team of RNLI lifeguards will visit 238 schools across Cornwall as part of a pre-season safety education programme.

Pupils between the ages of seven and 11 will take part in 30 minute interactive sessions from April 16 before the start of the beach season on May 5.

The lifeguards will teach the young people how to identify the safest place to swim, what beach flags mean, dangers to watch out for on the beach, and what to do in an emergency.

The lifeguards have been trained in techniques and skills needed to interact with children in a classroom, and how to make the sessions fun.

Dave Gorman, RNLI lifeguard manager community engagement, said: "Our charity operates a beach safety education programme that is aimed at running alongside a proactive RNLI lifeguard service on 57 of the busiest beaches in Cornwall where 95% of the lifeguard's role is to prevent incidents happening in the first place.

"It's these youngsters, growing up on or near the coast who will be visiting the beach with their families over the summer and it's essential that they start learning about the beach environment at a young age."

RNLI lifeguards are currently patrolling Fistral beach in Newquay full time. The summer season starts on May 5.

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