RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020
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RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020
CONTENTS
03 Our lifesaving values 15 International
05 Lifesaving in numbers 16 Fundraising
07 Service delivery 17 Face-to-face fundraising
08 Data collection 18 Research
09 Lifeguard definitions 19 Equipment and infrastructure
10 Lifeguard statistics overview 20 Media
11 Summary of incidents attended, people aided 22 News
and incident actions taken by lifeguards 24 Casualty care in action
12 Incident actions taken by lifeguards by report area and type 26 RNLI lifeguarded beaches 2020
13 Training 35 RNLI lifeguard regions
14 Youth engagement and water safety programmes (includes both lifeguarded and non-lifeguarded beaches 2020)
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 2
OUR LIFESAVING VALUES ‘When lockdown
restrictions eased,
In a year of unprecedented challenges, RNLI lifeguards we saw people flock
demonstrated once again the value of the service they
proudly provide to their communities. to the beaches to
enjoy our coastlines.
With exceptional bravery and resilience, our lifeguards delivered 129,344 hours of supervised
But that resulted in
beach patrols, performing 2,226,598 preventative actions and assisting 25,172 people a huge number of
through everything from rescue and casualty care to searches for missing persons.
people getting into
Saving lives during Covid-19 2020 solutions
difficulty around our
Despite the obstacles and uncertainty presented by the coronavirus crisis, the RNLI continued In early March, the RNLI set up a Covid-19 coasts, with our
to work tirelessly to keep both lifeguards and beach users safe. When restrictions were lifted crisis team to assess and manage the impact
in May, many of us were keen to get back outside and enjoy the summer at the coast. It quickly of the pandemic – as well as a governance lifesavers facing
became clear that, despite the shortened season, RNLI lifeguards would be busy once again. group and lifeguard stakeholder group – and
By taking a proactive approach, lifeguard cover was secured on 177 RNLI beaches across established a series of nine tests to determine
an incredibly
the UK and Channel Islands. whether lifeguard services could be rolled busy summer.’
out safely. April 2020 saw work begin on
2020 challenges what steps could be taken to mitigate the risk GARETH MORRISON
of lifeguards not being present on beaches. RNLI HEAD OF WATER SAFETY
A combination of new guidelines and no prior notice on the relaxing of restrictions
presented the RNLI with challenges in providing our lifeguarding service, in both the
short and medium term. These included: The RNLI also undertook a significant number of preventive measures including:
• sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE) • launching a national beach safety campaign in May in partnership with HM Coastguard
• difficulty in wearing PPE and social distancing while carrying out water rescue • running local and regional social media and PR campaigns
• limitations on lifeguard training due to social distancing measures • producing co-authored guidance for local authorities and operators on maintaining
• lifeguards not qualifying for furlough and therefore seeking alternative employment public and staff safety on beaches
• budgetary restraints due to a decrease in donations. • giving community access to rescue and first aid equipment
• landowners or occupiers closing beaches and not requiring a service • organising roving patrols, first aid, and bespoke daily safety signs on unguarded beaches
• lack of welfare facilities, such as toilets, for lifeguards • reviewing beach signage with local landowners
• difficulty in disposing of medical waste as services were not available • delivering leaflets to local stakeholders and partners for distribution
• inability to get equipment to required locations • checking emergency access points and noting conditions that could
• matching timings with holiday parks hamper response, and reporting concerns to HM Coastguard
• deteriorating or changing beach profiles. • working with local surf lifesaving clubs.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 3
OUR LIFESAVING VALUES
2020 results
OUR LIFEGUARD SERVICES TEAM
AT THE RNLI SUPPORT CENTRE, POOLE:
Peter Dawes
Lifesaving Safety and
Assurance Manager
Robbie Warrington
Head of Lifeguard Services
Lee Fisher
Lifeguard Client Services Manager
Brett Shepherd
Operations Manager (Lifeguards)
Marina Wilson
Lifesaving Operations Coordinator
(Lifeguard Services)
Tim Fallowfield
Lifeguard Supervisor
(Risk and Implementation)
Contact us at: lifeguards@rnli.org.uk
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 4
OUR LIFESAVING VALUES
Lifesaving in numbers
The RNLI’s RISE model – Rescue, Influence, Supervise, Educate – works across all aspects of the drowning chain.
We know that early intervention can be crucial in preventing an incident or making a successful rescue possible.
It’s a strategy that works to save lives every day.
Influence Educate Supervise Rescue
Non- Beach safety Number of Contracted supervised Assistance 3,386
Method RNLI 129,344
RNLI programme children bathing hours
Rescue 2,371
Beach safety Meet the Lifeguards* 0 Preventative actions 2,226,598
177 0 Lives saved 110
assessments Hit the Surf 0
Casualty care and
Water Safety 5,820
Signage and Over 5,000 minor first aid
Wednesdays households
public rescue reached
8 0 via Facebook Search 220
equipment
audits Over 2,000
Digital water safety educators Near miss 1,652
resources reached in UK
Coastal safety Missing/found 1,119
0 0 and Ireland
quick scans
* The pandemic meant that RNLI lifeguards couldn’t Non-aquatic assistance,
286
personally deliver youth engagement programmes including from sandbanks
to schools, youth groups, and the wider communities
they serve in the UK and Jersey. But our Water Safety False alarm 46
Team ensured that education continued throughout
2020 with a combination of social media messaging, Animals 162
new initiatives like Water Safety Wednesdays, and
other online resources, which can be viewed here:
Other 4
RNLI.org/YouthEducationResources
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 5
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 6
SERVICE DELIVERY
The RNLI offers a beach safety assessment consultancy
service to all local authorities and private beach owners.
Beach safety assessments
The assessment process is designed to help facilitate a comprehensive beach safety
management strategy by highlighting hazards and assigning ratings and suggested
control measures. A beach safety assessment is completed for each RNLI lifeguarded
beach every 5 years, with annual reviews of the full beach safety assessments.
Due to the restrictions in 2020, it wasn’t possible to carry out any assessments at
non-RNLI beaches. The total figures for non-RNLI beaches therefore remained the same.
Total figures for non-RNLI beaches as at 31 December 2020:
• 465 non-RNLI beaches have been fully assessed
• 276 non-RNLI beaches have benefitted from signage audit reports
• 169 non-RNLI beaches have benefitted from public rescue equipment audit reports.
Service development
In 2020, there were 177 RNLI beach lifeguard units in total. The estimated number
of visitors to beaches covered by RNLI lifeguards was over 15 million (15,629,299).
177
RNLI BEACH
LIFEGUARD
UNITS IN TOTAL
15M
RECORDED NUMBER
OF BEACH VISITORS
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 7
DATA COLLECTION
While we continue to expand the user base of our Lifesaving
Activity Reporting system (LSAR), which captures data
electronically, incident data is collected from lifeguards
both as electronic records and paper forms.
Returns are then entered, processed, checked the numbers of incidents and people
and validated at the RNLI Support Centre in aided, as well as the number of actions
Poole by the Service Information Section. our lifeguards perform.
This incident data provides the basis for For the RNLI’s international projects,
the statistics in this report. project partners are responsible for collecting,
Implemented in 2017, the LSAR system analysing and reporting summary data.
allows us to collect incident information Though the RNLI aims to verify this
in a structured way and enhances our data through spot checking, the data is
ability to analyse lifeguard data more fully, not owned by the RNLI and is not directly
enabling more detailed reporting. This means comparable to RNLI operational statistics
we’re able to report more accurately from the UK and Ireland.
The LSAR system,
provides more
accurate reporting
on incidents,
actions and
people aided.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 8
LIFEGUARD DEFINITIONS
Animals when a lifeguard rescues False alarm when a lifeguard responds Near miss when a lifeguard observes Preventative action any action
or assists an animal to safety. to an incident where a person is believed an incident, event or condition that does taken by a lifeguard that provides
to be in difficulty but upon arrival it is not cause death or serious injury but has advice, guidance or direction to a
Anti-social behaviour when a confirmed they do not require assistance. the potential to do so. person that mitigates against risk.
lifeguard takes action to deal with
anti-social behaviour. Incident any situation that RNLI lifeguards Non-aquatic assistance, including Rescue where a lifeguard
are involved in. from sandbanks when a lifeguard assists responds to a person at risk and
Assistance where a lifeguard aids a a person that was not in the water, or clears physically returns them to shore
person in the sea who is at low risk but, Incident action the number of different a sandbank of people who are at risk and or transfers them to another
if left, would be at risk. ways that lifeguards deal with incidents. ensures they return to shore. rescue craft.
Any one casualty could receive multiple
Beach visitors the number of actions by lifeguards. Actions where no Other anything else that does not fit into Search an organised search,
beach visitors is assessed by recording people are involved are also included. the specified categories. with other search and rescue units,
an estimate, every 2 hours, of the number for a missing person either at sea
of beach users within the lifeguard Life saved where, if a lifeguard had People aided the total number of people or on land.
patrol area, those in the water between not intervened, a life would have been lost. that lifeguards have aided.
the red and yellow flags, and those using
surf and other craft between the black Minor first aid where a lifeguard treats
and white flags. The highest number for a casualty due to sickness or injury who is
each category each day is then used to at low or no risk but who requires treatment
obtain the overall number. to ensure the risk does not increase.
Body recovery where a lifeguard Missing/found where a lifeguard
attends an incident that requires assists in the location of children who
recovering a body. This includes have become separated from their
those in the sea or on land. parents/guardians, or other people
who have been found or reported
Casualty care where a lifeguard missing, including those who are
formally assesses and/or treats a casualty known to be missing as a result
according to RNLI casualty care protocols. of an incident in or on the water.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 9
LIFEGUARD
STATISTICS OVERVIEW
Lifeguards Number
Incidents 10,687
Lives saved 110
People aided 25,172
Incident actions 15,375
Preventative actions 2,226,598
These figures are correct as of 3 March 2021.
25,172
PEOPLE 2,226,598
110
LIVES
AIDED PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS
TAKEN BY LIFEGUARDS SAVED
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 10SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS ATTENDED, PEOPLE AIDED
AND INCIDENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY LIFEGUARDS
Incident
Report area Incidents People aided
actions
Carrick and Kerrier 1,575 2,380 2,273
Chichester 276 360 332
East Dorset 913 1,146 1,132
East England 346 399 436
Newquay and Padstow 1,227 1,925 1,984
North Cornwall, North Devon and Somerset 755 1,244 1,317
North East England 1,117 1,939 1,775
North Wales and North West England 987 11,235 1,588
Northern Ireland 225 285 290
Penwith 522 712 714
Ramsgate 111 113 108
Rother and Hastings 294 339 344
Scotland 139 261 244
South East Cornwall 219 322 316
South Wales 521 618 630
West Dorset, South Devon and Jersey 1,076 1,450 1,434
West Wales 384 444 458
Totals 10,687 25,172 15,375
These figures are correct as of 3 March 2021.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 11INCIDENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY LIFEGUARDS BY REPORT AREA AND TYPE
Lives Casualty Minor Search Missing/ Non-aquatic Near False Anti-social
Report area saved Rescue Assistance Animals Other
care first aid found assistance miss alarm behaviour
Carrick and Kerrier 10 422 610 103 806 17 122 82 63 11 9 17 1
Chichester 3 13 28 11 135 11 50 0 77 3 1 0 0
East Dorset 7 74 185 94 538 14 57 2 159 0 1 1 0
East England 7 61 59 38 122 21 73 2 11 2 6 34 0
Newquay and Padstow 5 400 387 103 707 5 78 4 276 11 4 4 0
North Cornwall, North Devon 7 546 297 72 193 18 145 6 31 0 1 1 0
and Somerset
North East England 5 113 324 66 640 25 128 39 359 3 57 15 1
North Wales and North 5 11 632 29 283 34 61 111 343 2 20 55 2
West England
Northern Ireland 6 71 78 15 84 6 14 6 3 1 0 6 0
Penwith 2 187 191 24 243 4 24 5 25 0 0 9 0
Ramsgate 0 1 3 4 71 1 27 0 1 0 0 0 0
Rother and Hastings 6 16 58 16 110 14 109 3 7 2 1 2 0
Scotland 0 9 7 12 60 2 19 1 130 0 0 4 0
South East Cornwall 12 74 38 11 137 0 3 18 20 0 1 2 0
South Wales 11 111 147 62 147 27 114 0 2 1 6 2 0
West Dorset, South Devon 13 183 257 80 550 12 81 6 145 8 92 7 0
and Jersey
West Wales 11 79 85 12 242 9 14 1 0 2 0 3 0
Totals 110 2,371 3,386 752 5,068 220 1,119 286 1,652 46 199 162 4
These figures are correct as of 3 March 2021.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 12TRAINING
In 2020, our senior lifeguard assessors and coastal
lifeguard trainers worked harder than ever to ensure
the continued provision of world-class training under
extremely challenging circumstances.
Approximately 100 lifeguard supervisors Vital succession training – critical to future-
and 1,141 lifeguards were inducted, trained, proof the RNLI lifeguard service in 2021
revalidated or assessed in craft, vehicle or and beyond – was also carried out and is
multiple discipline operator qualifications. shown in the table below.
Other highlights:
• The introduction of an externally certified Trainer Assessor (TA) course – developed by
the RNLI Lifeguard Assessor Trainer Team and other emergency services – to be used
as the benchmark for high-quality training and assessment.
• The development of condensed and Covid-secure lifeguard induction, command
and craft, and vehicle operator revalidation packages.
• Lifeguard assessor trainer support to the lifeboat service in its use of A class (Arancia)
rescue boats and lifeboat station rescue watercraft.
• New equipment trials, policy and procedural development, along with the publication
Number of
of both electronic and hard copy resources to support lifeguard operations.
Course title lifeguards
• Significant lifeguard assessor trainer support and assistance to the regions to assist
trained
the rapid mobilisation of an operational lifeguard service.
Operational Leadership (prospective/senior lifeguards) 32
Lifeguard Trainer Assessor (TA) 12
Inshore Rescue Boat TA 4
All-terrain Vehicle TA 12
Rescue Watercraft TA 17
Four-wheel Drive TA 12
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 13YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND WATER SAFETY PROGRAMMES
In 2020, RNLI lifeguards were unable to deliver our engagement and water safety programmes for young people
in person. But vital water safety messaging was still delivered by adapting and adopting new strategies.
Reaching out to families at home
WATER SAFETY
With families living and working from home and children out of school, our Water Safety WEDNESDAY
Team recognised the need to develop a suite of accessible online resources. REACHED OVER
5,000
Joining forces with our Media Team, they created a weekly educational show
Water Safety Wednesdays to engage, entertain and inform. The show was broadcast live
for 6 weeks on Facebook – 1 April to 6 May – with Liam Fayle-Parr from the Water Safety
Team as its presenter. Over 5,000 households tuned in.
HOUSEHOLDS
Developing digital resources
Following the success of Water Safety Wednesdays and ahead of the summer school term, DIGITAL WATER
SAFETY PACKS
members of the team developed digital resource packages for teachers and tutors.
REACHED OVER
2,000
These are available for free on our website: RNLI.org/YouthEducationResources
The packs – targeted to prepare young people with essential and lifesaving water
safety skills like Float to Live and Stop and Think – reached over 2,000 education EDUCATORS
professionals and community partners between May and July across the UK and Ireland. AND PARTNERS
Kirsty Brunton, Water Safety Education Manager in Scotland, reached out to every
school in Scotland with the support of her volunteer team: ‘I’ve had positive replies
from primary and secondary schools.
They’re including our water safety content
on school websites, emailing information
‘Thanks so much Liam! out to parents, and including links on
Edith watched this their school Facebook pages.’
Unfortunately, programmes such as
every Wednesday Hit the Surf and Meet the Lifeguards
have been put on hold in 2021 due to
morning. She loved it!’ changing priorities.
WATER SAFETY WEDNESDAYS VIEWER
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 14INTERNATIONAL
SEASAFE messages were developed and disseminated
across social media, community radio,
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh national TV talk shows – as well as via
mobile loudspeakers – to ensure that the risk
Every day, 50 people drown in Bangladesh. of drowning was not forgotten during the
SeaSafe, a joint initiative between lockdown period, which coincided with the Funding successes expand swim survival and community
the RNLI and the Centre for Injury monsoon season. engagement activities to the wider Cox’s
Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), In August 2020, restrictions were eased Since 2017, the Princess Charlene of Bazar district over the next 4 years.
was established in 2013 to change that. allowing the lifeguard service to deliver a Monaco Foundation have supported the
Phase 1, completed in 2019, supported the Covid-19 adapted service for the rest of the RNLI SeaSafe project in Bangladesh. Next steps
centre in implementing a lifeguard service year. Working with experts from low- and This year, the foundation agreed to provide
on three beaches, bringing water safety middle-income countries, we produced unrestricted funding direct to As the SeaSafe project transitions into the
education to schools and high-risk a set of guidelines to help manage the our implementing partners, CIPRB. With larger UK Aid Direct project, the RNLI will
communities, and delivering a swim risks associated with Covid-19 during the the support of RNLI fundraising teams, continue to provide technical support until
survival programme. Phase 2 is focussed delivery of swimming lessons, with a view to CIPRB successfully secured a UK Aid Direct SeaSafe officially ends in December 2021.
on sustainability – ensuring that our resuming swim survival activities in 2021. grant worth £1.4M. This new project will
lifesaving legacy endures when we leave.
How has Covid-19 affected
SeaSafe Project 2020
the project?
THE LIFEGUARD COMMUNITY COVID-19
During the peak of the pandemic, SERVICE ENGAGEMENT MESSAGES
25
schools and beaches were closed, and a
5,950 2,779 33,558
non-essential travel ban was implemented
across the country. As a result, the lifeguard
service, water safety education and swim CHILDREN RECEIVED CHILDREN RECEIVED
survival activities were suspended. WATER SAFETY BEACH SAFETY
The team in Bangladesh adapted,
EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
EDUCATION PEOPLE IN COX’S BAZAR
working with local government stakeholders AND SURROUNDING AREAS
PEOPLE RECEIVED COVID-19
15,028
and other organisations to develop a set of TOURISTS RECEIVED
BEACH SAFETY AWARENESS MESSAGES
Covid-19 drowning risk reduction messages
based on guidance issued by the World RESCUED EDUCATION BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST 2020
Health Organization (WHO). Thirteen key
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 15FUNDRAISING
The coronavirus outbreak has tested many charities and emergency services across
the UK and Ireland – particularly with fundraising. The RNLI Engagement Team has risen
to the challenge by finding new ways to raise money and energise supporters.
FUNDRAISING IMPACTS ONLINE SUCCESSES
2020 was a challenging year for the RNLI in many ways, impacting not only the way our crews Despite the urgency and uncertainty,
and lifeguards work, but also our ability to raise the funds that sustain this lifesaving work. moving many fundraising activities online
With core activities like bucket collections and events cancelled – and with our shops and has proven a success. Our virtual Fish Supper,
stations closed for many months – our teams in fundraising, retail and engagement applied which included a live cooking demonstration
themselves to diversifying their approach and establishing Covid-safe methods to carry out from former Masterchef winner Jane
their roles. Devonshire, raised over £60,000 for
A newly formed team acted quickly to adjust its focus to three key areas: regional station running costs – and set a
• Ensuring our shops and fundraising activity were safe for reopening as restrictions lifted. new Guinness World Record for ‘the most
• Quickly building on our existing online fundraising activity and developing new routes people eating a fish and chip dinner
for donor support. simultaneously online’.
• Maintaining important relationships with our volunteer network to keep them Other virtual events included open days
supported throughout the restrictions and wider pandemic. and quizzes to keep supporters engaged. A contactless donation unit: Fundraising volunteers
fully embraced this smart digital technology
And we’ve had some great success stories
from both our online shop and high street
shops, which delivered record-breaking sales
in a short period of time.
OUR VIRTUAL
FISH SUPPER
RAISED OVER
£60,000
AND SET A NEW
WORLD RECORD
West Bridgford RNLI fundraising volunteers adopting the new Covid-19 safety measures Former MasterChef winner Jane Devonshire
including face masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and a contactless donation unit joined in our virtual Fish Supper event
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 16FACE-TO-FACE FUNDRAISING
While the pandemic impacted the Face-to-face (F2F) Team
in 2020, you’ll see us out fundraising in a Covid-safe way in
many areas in 2021.
Annually, our 150-strong in-house team Over the last 5 years, our F2F Team
of seasonal face-to-face fundraisers act as has spoken to over 850,000 children and
ambassadors for the RNLI. The teams you adults with targeted and relevant safety
see at beaches, lifeboat stations and events messages, to promote lifesaving behaviour
throughout the UK and Ireland have been change. This is crucial for our drowning
thoroughly trained on what the charity does prevention work.
on an international, national and local level The team work collaboratively in
so that wherever the conversation flows, the local community alongside RNLI
they can find a relevant connection with volunteers, lifesavers and stakeholders –
everyone they speak with about the RNLI. each supporting the other to achieve their
The F2F Team not only aims to raise goals. Working like this enables them to
funds for the RNLI, but also to talk inspire new supporters, who contribute
confidently about how people can help keep £3.5M annually to the RNLI through
themselves safer at the coast. The team has monthly direct debits. This is important
always shared key beach safety messages, for the RNLI and it builds on the great
and more recently has helped to support the work of our volunteer fundraisers who
Respect the Water campaign and bring the raise awareness of the RNLI each and
Float to Live message to life. every day.
OVER THE LAST
5 YEARS
THE F2F TEAM
HAS SPOKEN
TO OVER
850,000
CHILDREN
AND ADULTS
RNLI Face-to-face Fundraiser Ieuan Jeffcott (photo taken before Covid-19 pandemic)
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 17RESEARCH
In 2020, development and trials of our online and app-based tools
was slowed by the Covid-19 crisis. But we resumed this work
towards the end of the year and look forward to further progress
in 2021.
Online and app-based solutions The advantages were clear early on in Quick Scan
the trials, as the level of detail that can
We were able to move our established public be captured is much greater than the Following on from last year’s hackathon,
rescue equipment and signage templates traditional method. The collected data the coastal Quick Scan Model has been
to an iPad-based system in 2020. Using the also requires much less formatting after trialled around England, allowing various
GPS functions and the ability to directly site visits. This allows the reports to be coastal environments to be tested
link photographs contributes to a very finalised and shared much sooner. and categorised. The next stage of this
detailed auditing tool. As the beach safety We are hoping that – due to the level of project is to finalise an end user report and
assessment template is a larger and more autonomy in the software – future reports create a database showing how the coastline
involved document, requiring additional will have a high level of consistency and be has been assessed.
functions, the transition to an online format more user-friendly. For those collecting the Further analysis of assessed areas needs
is a more challenging project, however a data, this will reduce the need for training to be carried out in order to gauge the
prototype is under development. and support. suitability of suggested control measures.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 18EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
RNLI lifeguards rely on their equipment and facilities to help
them save lives. The onset of the pandemic, which required
the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), brought new
challenges in procurement and logistics.
56
PPE Facilities
104
One of our biggest challenges in 2020 RNLI lifeguards operate in a dynamic beach
was the requirement of lifeguards to environment, so they need spaces that can be
wear PPE – and securing the equipment at positioned anywhere from clifftops to shingle
TRANSIENT
a time of high demand. Determining what beaches and which are capable of withstanding PERMANENT LIFEGUARD
LIFEGUARD
UNITS
equipment (and how much of it) would the elements with minimal maintenance.
be needed was based on the number of All equipment and facilities are designed BUILDINGS
lifeguards at each lifeguard station and how to support lifesaving activities and ensure
long they might be active. This was further that lifeguard safety and wellbeing are
complicated by the expansion from 70 taken care of. Both environmental and
to 177 beaches. The logistics of delivering aesthetic criteria also need to be satisfied
Facility type Number
PPE to support centres and beaches was when integrating buildings and temporary
hampered by driver furlough. It was a huge infrastructures within the natural and urban Permanent lifeguard buildings 56
task, successfully completed. environment in which they’re located.
Additional permanent
The RNLI has 434 lifeguard assets, 56 of 274
buildings or structures
which are permanent lifeguard buildings.
Each permanent lifeguard building offers Transient lifeguard units 104
a self-contained lookout with power, water,
gas stove and storage solutions so that Total 434
effective lifeguard cover can be provided
on the beaches.
274
Additional permanent buildings include
26 mobile units, 104 transient lifeguard units, ADDITIONAL
26 permanent lifeguard units, 136 rescue PERMANENT
board bins, 31 main support buildings, BUILDINGS OR
29 ancillary buildings and 26 fixed container STRUCTURES
stores, some of which are hired seasonally.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 19MEDIA
Throughout a challenging 2020 season, the RNLI Media
Engagement Team continued to raise awareness about
lifeguards, the work they do and the importance of
beach safety.
Between 1 January and 31 December, there were 4,179 items of print and broadcast coverage
in national and regional media. These reached over 46M people with an advertising value
equivalent of over £10.4M. Of these articles, 83% were favourable, 0.6% were unfavourable August 2020: A BBC South Today film shows
Southsea lifeguards adapting to the pandemic
and 16.4% were considered neutral.
Highlights Social media
• RNLI lifeguards featured across two episodes of Saving Lives at Sea, series 5. Our social media followers across Facebook, the lifeguard service towards the
• A BBC South Today film with Southsea lifeguards on adapting to Twitter and Instagram continued to beginning of the summer.
the pandemic – later used on the national BBC News Online website. show positivity towards the RNLI and our
• RNLI Lifesavers podcast, episode 3, series 2, featured an interview with lifeguards. A compilation video post on
a casualty reunited with the Perranporth lifeguards who saved her life. Facebook announcing the launch of the
• An interview with Northern Ireland lifeguard, Annie Jagoe, for a Stylist magazine lifeguard service to 170 beaches reached
article on what her day involves while working as a lifeguard. 198,562 people and gained 10,040
• Cornwall and Dorset lifeguards interviewed for Men’s Fitness magazine. engagements. The second most viewed
The article included safety messaging and an insight into becoming a lifeguard. post was the footage of an Exmouth
• Lifeguard Ryan Jennings appeared on BBC Breakfast to give an interview on lifeguard rescuing a windsurfer. This post
paddleboarding and beach safety. The show typically earns over 6M viewers. gained 15,972 engagements and reached
• Our corporate partner Ford showed support for our Beach Safety campaign through its 174,762 people.
Tide Track initiative with a selection of our lifeguards from the south east of England.
Media training
Real-life footage
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, face-to-face
News and radio websites used footage media training with lifeguards was paused.
from our lifeguard Contour cameras. However, the Media Engagement Team was
Actual footage of a lifeguard rescuing able to offer advice and training over the
a windsurfer in difficulty was used by phone and provide continued support.
October 2020: RNLI lifeguards feature East Devon News and other regional This was particularly important during August 2020: Our corporate partner Ford shares our beach
in series 5 of Saving Lives at Sea. safety messages in the sand through its Tide Track initiative
news outlets. the announcement of changes made to
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 20MEDIA
July 2020: An article about being a lifeguard features in Men’s Fitness magazine
Media coverage Advertising value equivalent
Media coverage was evaluated at the Calculating the equivalent monetary value
end of 2020 and, although not exhaustive, of achieved PR and communications
it provides a useful snapshot of public compared to paid-for advertising is
relations (PR) activity and media coverage notoriously difficult. However, the advertising
secured during the year. value equivalent (AVE) can provide a useful
The volume of media coverage for benchmark. From 1 January to 31 December
lifeguards from 1 January to 31 December 2020, the advertising value of the 4,179
2020 is 4,179 items of print and items of lifeguard coverage was estimated
broadcast coverage. at £10.4 million (£10,442,594).
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 21NEWS
8 AUGUST
RNLI lifeguards were involved in 10,687 incidents
and aided 25,172 people in 2020. Four children in rubber dinghy
are saved in RNLI rescue off
North Yorkshire coast
With beaches packed when Government 24 JULY Whitby lifeguards spring into action after
restrictions were lifted, our lifeguards hit spotting a group of 10–13-year-old children
the water and the headlines in 2020. Life’s a Beach: Getting a sense of the in a small rubber dinghy being blown out
Here’s just a snapshot of some of the fitness and fearlessness required to to sea. It’s a busy day for the lifeguards
lifesaving rescues they were involved in keep Britain’s coastline safe who later rescue two 11-year-olds on
during the pandemic, alongside highlights another inflatable.
of their critical work to raise awareness Lifeguards Simon Davis and Harry
and share water safety messages. Butterworth, Lifeguard Supervisor Leon 9 AUGUST
Bennett and Lifeguard Operations Manager
22 JANUARY Brett Shepherd give safety and fitness Coronavirus: How lifeguarding
advice in a 6-page feature. has changed for the RNLI
Lifeguards needed for
Sheppey Baywatch BBC South Today and BBC News show a
behind the scenes film of lifeguards adapting
Keen to find new lifeguards for her local to the restrictions of the pandemic and
beaches, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor Lucy giving advice on visiting the beach.
MacGowan from Kent explains what it takes July 2020: An article about being a lifeguard
features in Men’s Fitness magazine
to become a lifeguard and what people need
to do to apply.
26 JULY
10 JULY
A 1-day diary of an RNLI lifeguard
North Wales parents are urged from morning latte to lights out
to be ‘beach safe’ after busy return
for RNLI Portrush RNLI Lifeguard Annie Jagoe is
interviewed by consumer magazine Stylist
Key beach safety messaging is shared with on what her working day as a lifeguard
readers after lifeguards at Whitmore Bay entails. She discusses her typical routine, July 2020: A Stylist magazine article on
and Whitesands Beach save two lives the requirements for becoming a lifeguard Northern Ireland lifeguard, Annie Jagoe, August 2020: A BBC South Today film shows
describes what it’s like to be an RNLI lifeguard Southsea lifeguards adapting to the pandemic
during two separate incidents. and beach rescues.
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 22NEWS
18 AUGUST 18 SEPTEMBER
Ford’s custom tyres help the RNLI Mum’s thanks to heroes who
spread water safety messages saved her from sea
In a joint campaign, Ford and the RNLI Amanda Humble is rescued by lifeguards
launch the Tide Tracks initiative. In support after she gets into difficulty off the coast
of our beach safety push in 2020, they use of Cornwall. Three RNLI lifeguards rescue
custom tyres to imprint key water safety Amanda and seven other people caught in
messages across stretches of sand. a rip current.
23 AUGUST 6 OCTOBER
Exmouth lifeguard saves windsurfer Saving Lives at Sea: Series 5,
Episode 3
In challenging conditions, RNLI Lifeguard
Dom Brown saves a young windsurfer For the fifth series of Saving Lives at Sea,
taken out by the ebbing tide. The rescue RNLI Lifeguards Luke Lane-Prokopiou
footage is shared with the media and and Emily Bush recount the rescue of
used to raise awareness of the dangers a boy with an injured back on BBC Two.
of strong currents. This episode received over 1.4M views.
3 SEPTEMBER
RNLI lifeguards risk own safety
in Tresaith rescue
In extremely challenging conditions,
two RNLI lifeguards enter the water
after spotting a father and son
kayaking duo in difficulty off
Tresaith Beach. They successfully
assist the lifeboat crew and rescue
the casualties.
August 2020: Footage of Exmouth RNLI Lifeguard Dom
Brown rescuing a windsurfer appears on East Devon News September 2020: The Daily Mirror features the rescue of bodyboarder Amanda Humble who was saved by RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 23CASUALTY CARE IN ACTION
2020 saw RNLI lifeguards carry out 5,820 medical actions
with 752 of them being serious incidents, including full
resuscitations. Read some of their stories below.
23 August: Lyme Regis RNLI lifeguards of secondary drowning, Lyme Regis volunteer 11 August: RNLI lifeguards at Towan approximately 100m from the beach.
rescue boy found unresponsive in Lifeboat Chair Mark Houghton called for carry out successful CPR off the beach They immediately placed the chest pads
the water a land ambulance. At the same time, Ben on the casualty and used the defibrillator
communicated with the Coastguard and RNLI Lifeguards Tim Fallowfield and Stuart to give one initial shock. Now conscious
When RNLI Lifeguard Simon Davis spotted cleared the busy beach for the air ambulance Weatherley were on patrol at Towan and talking, he was then transferred to
a boy who had been bodyboarding floating to safely land. The casualty was transported Beach in Newquay when they were alerted the care of the paramedics and went on
face down in the water after a seizure – on a spinal board to the land ambulance and to a casualty off the beach who needed to make a full recovery.
unresponsive but breathing – he knew he had transferred into the care of the critical care immediate CPR. The casualty was walking Lewis Timson, Lead Lifeguard
to act quickly. Simon immediately managed air ambulance doctor. to the beach for a surf lesson when he Supervisor for Newquay, said: ‘Our RNLI
the casualty’s airway and requested prompt Lifeguard Supervisor Dominik Fajkiel dropped down suddenly, unconscious and lifeguards are professionally trained in
assistance from the beach lifeguard unit. says: ‘It doesn’t take a lot of water to get not breathing. The instructors commenced lifesaving and delivering casualty care,
After recovering the boy from the water, into your lungs before it becomes critical. chest compressions and contacted the and they demonstrated how vital these
Simon administered oxygen from the crash Rescues of this nature highlight the Towan lifeguards. skills are by helping to save this man’s life
bag supplied by RNLI Senior Lifeguard Ben importance of swimming at a lifeguarded Carrying their crash bag and wearing PPE, on Tuesday.’
Greenslade and placed the casualty into the beach and keeping an eye on your family. Tim and Stuart ran to the scene,
recovery position. If it wasn’t for the lifeguard’s quick reaction
Realising that the boy could have on Sunday, the outcome could have been
swallowed a lot of water and be at risk totally different.’
RNLI Lifeguards Simon Davis (centre) and Ben Greenslade (left) with
Lifeboat Chair Mark Houghton whose teamwork saved a young boy’s life The training of RNLI Lifeguards Tim Fallowfield (Left) and Stuart Weatherley (right) kicked in when called to a man who needed CPR
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 24CASUALTY CARE IN ACTION
RNLI Senior Lifeguard Ailsa MacRae (centre) with RNLI Lifeguards Amy Napier (left) and Kane Philpott
(right) on the beach where they saved a six-year-old girl after she had a seizure in the water
31 July: Kent RNLI lifeguards rescue first aid responder bag and coordinated the
25 and resuscitate a 6-year-old girl ambulance response. A short time later, ‘The lifeguards showed such courage and bravery.
the girl began breathing and lifeguards
On one of the busiest weekends for call administered oxygen and monitored her You have to be so confident in yourself and your
outs in 4 years according to HM Coastguard,
RNLI lifeguards at Botany Bay were called
vital signs until handover to the paramedics.
She was taken to hospital where she
first aid skills to do something like this. It says
into action after a 6-year-old girl paddling in recovered from her ordeal. a lot about their training that they felt entirely
the sea suffered a seizure, fell unconscious Lifeguard Supervisor Ellie Hopper says:
and stopped breathing. ‘You have to be so confident in yourself and comfortable working alongside a clinical lead GP
Off-duty GP, Dr Shankari Maha, began your first aid skills to do something like this. to help save this young girl’s life.’
CPR, which was then taken over by RNLI It says a lot about RNLI lifeguard training
Senior Lifeguard Ailsa MacRae and RNLI that the lifeguards felt entirely comfortable ELLIE HOPPER
Lifeguard Amy Napier. Newly trained RNLI working alongside a clinical lead GP to help LIFEGUARD SUPERVISOR
Lifeguard Kane Philpott arrived with the save this young girl’s life.’
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 25RNLI LIFEGUARDED BEACHES 2020
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 26Mullacott Support Centre Burnham-on-Sea
Woolacombe
Millrock
Croyde
Sandymere
Westward Ho!
SOUTH WEST (1)
Sandymouth
Crooklets
Summerleaze
Bude Support Centre
Widemouth
Crackington Haven
Sandy Bay
Exmouth Lyme Regis
West Bay
Dawlish Warren
Teignmouth North Dawlish Support Centre Weymouth Support Centre
Weymouth
Saltash Support Centre
Sharrow
Tregantle
Kingsbridge Support Centre
Plémont
Seaton
Tregonhawke Grève de Lecq
Challaborough
Sedgewell Cove
Blackpool Sands
St Ouen’s Bay
Bantham Jersey Support Centre
Le Braye
St Brelade’s Bay
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 27Trebarwith Strand
Polzeath
Booby’s Trevone
Padstow Support Centre
Harlyn
Constantine
Treyarnon
Porthcothan
Mawgan Porth
SOUTH WEST (2)
Watergate Bay
Porth
Tolcarne
Holywell Newquay Support Centre
Towan
Perran Sands Fistral
Perranporth
Crantock River
Perranporth Support Centre
Crantock
St Agnes
Chapel Porth
Godrevy
Gwithian Porthtowan
Beach View
Upton Towans Portreath
Hayle Towans
Porthmeor
Porthminster
Hayle Support Centre
Gyllyngvase
Praa Sands Helston Support Centre
Gwenver
Sennen
Porthcurno
Poldhu Cove
Kennack
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 28Ainsdale
Formby Support Centre
Formby
Crosby New Brighton (Perch Rock)
Wirral Support Centre
Prestatyn Harrison Drive
Leasowe Bay
Rhyl
West Kirby
St Asaph Support Centre
WALES AND WEST
Borth
Aberystwyth North
Aberystwyth South
New Quay Harbour
Llangrannog
Poppit Sands
Tresaith
Newport Sands
Aberporth
Cardigan Support Centre
Whitesands
Newgale North
Newgale Central
Nolton Haven
Haverfordwest Support Centre Saundersfoot
Broad Haven Swansea Support Centre
Freshwater West Trecco Bay
Coney/Sandy Bay
Tenby Castle Rest Bay
Tenby South
Three Cliffs
Bridgend Support Centre
Langland
Caswell
Port Eynon
Ogmore Whitmore
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 29Whiterocks
Ballycastle
Portrush East Strand
Portrush West Strand
Portstewart Strand
Castlerock
Benone Strand Ballymoney Support Centre
NORTHERN IRELAND
Tyrella
Cranfield
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 30SCOTLAND
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 31Whitley Bay North
Whitley Bay
Cullercoats
Tynemouth Longsands North Sandhaven (Centre Beach)
King Edward’s Bay
Seaburn
Boldon Support Centre
Roker
Runswick Bay
Saltburn
Sandsend
NORTH EAST (1)
Whitby
Scarborough North Bay
Scarborough South Bay Filey
Scarborough Support Centre
Bridlington North Bridlington South
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 32Mablethorpe
Skegness Support Centre Skegness
Wells-next-the-Sea
Sheringham West
Cromer East
Mundesley
Sea Palling
Catfield Support Centre
Hemsby
Gorleston
NORTH EAST (2)
Lowestoft South
Southwold
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 33Minnis Bay
SOUTH EAST
Margate Main
Botany Bay
Leysdown Joss Bay
Stone Bay
Ramsgate Support Centre Broadstairs/Viking Bay
Ramsgate
Southsea Central Hastings Pelham
Hastings Support Centre
Southsea East
St Leonards Camber Central
Bournemouth East Littlehampton East (East)
Durley Chine Boscombe West Chichester Support Centre Camber West
Branksome Chine
Bexhill-on-Sea
Shore Road Southbourne
Poole Support Littlehampton East (West)
Centre
Avon Beach
Sandbanks
Fisherman’s Walk
Boscombe East
Swanage
Bournemouth West
Alum Chine
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 34RNLI LIFEGUARD REGIONS
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 35NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
SOUTH WEST
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Greenhill Tregonhawke
Freathy
Weymouth
Weymouth South East Cornwall Saltash Sharrow
West Bay
Tregantle
Lyme Regis Seaton
Sandy Bay Gyllyngvase
Kennack
Exmouth
Polurrian Cove
Dawlish Dawlish Warren Carrick and Kerrier Helston Poldhu Cove
Teignmouth North Gunwalloe
Teignmouth South Porthleven
Praa Sands
Blackpool Sands
Perranuthnoe
West Dorset, Slapton Sands Marazion
South Devon
Hope Cove Porthcurno
and Jersey
Sennen
Kingsbridge Bantham
Gwenver
Sedgewell Cove
Porthmeor
Bigbury-on-Sea North Porthminster
Challaborough Penwith Hayle Carbis Bay
Porthkidney
St Brelade’s Bay
Hayle Towans
Le Braye Mexico Towans
Watersplash, St Ouen’s Godrevy
Jersey
St Ouen’s Bay Gwithian North
Gwithian South
Plémont
Upton Towans
Grève de Lecq Beach View
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 36NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
SOUTH WEST
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Portreath Crackington Haven
Porthtowan Black Rock
Chapel Porth Widemouth
Carrick and Kerrier Perranporth St Agnes Bude Summerleaze
Perranporth Crooklets
Perran Sands Northcott
Holywell North Cornwall, Sandymouth
North Devon
Crantock Westward Ho!
and Somerset
Crantock River Sandymere
South Fistral Croyde
Fistral Mullacott Millrock
Towan Woolacombe
Newquay Great Western Burnham-on-Sea
Tolcarne Berrow
Lusty Glaze
Porth
Newquay and Padstow Watergate Bay
Mawgan Porth
Porthcothan
Treyarnon
Constantine
Booby’s
Padstow
Harlyn
Trevone
Polzeath
Trebarwith Strand
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 37NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
WALES AND WEST
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Whitmore Newport Sands
Llantwit Major
Poppit Sands
Southerndown
Aberporth
Bridgend Ogmore
Rest Bay Tresaith
Coney/Sandy Bay Llangrannog
West Wales Cardigan
Trecco Bay New Quay Harbour
Aberavon
Aberystwyth South
Swansea Bay
Aberystwyth North
Langland
South Wales Caswell Clarach
Three Cliffs Borth
Port Eynon
Rhyl
Pembrey St Asaph
Swansea Prestatyn
Pendine Sands
Amroth West Kirby
Saundersfoot Moreton
Tenby North Leasowe Bay
Tenby Castle Wirral
North Wales and Harrison Drive
Tenby South
North West England The Plateaux
Freshwater West
Broad Haven New Brighton (Perch Rock)
Nolton Haven Crosby
Newgale South
West Wales Haverfordwest Formby
Newgale Central Formby
Ainsdale
Newgale North
Whitesands Southport
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 38NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
NORTHERN IRELAND SCOTLAND
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Cranfield St Andrews West Sands
Murlough St Andrews East Sands
Tyrella Elie Harbour
Glenrothes
Ballycastle Scotland Leven
Whiterocks Burntisland
Portrush East Strand Aberdour Silver Sands
Northern Ireland Ballymoney
Portrush West Strand Eyemouth Coldingham Bay
Portrush West Harbour
Portstewart Strand
Castlerock
Downhill Strand
Benone Strand
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 39NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
NORTH AND EAST
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Whitley Bay North Mablethorpe
Whitley Bay
Sutton on Sea
Cullercoats
Tynemouth Longsands North Skegness Ingoldmells
Tynemouth Longsands Skegness
Boldon King Edward’s Bay
Wells-next-the-Sea
Sandhaven (Centre Beach)
Sheringham West
Sandhaven (Mowbray)
Seaburn Sheringham East
Cats and Dogs West Runton
Roker
East Runton
Redcar
Saltburn Cromer West
North East England East England
Runswick Bay Cromer East
Sandsend
Mundesley
Whitby
Scarborough North Bay Catfield Sea Palling
Scarborough South Bay Hemsby
Scarborough Cayton Bay
Great Yarmouth
Filey
Limekiln Lane Gorleston
Bridlington North Lowestoft North
Bridlington South
Lowestoft South
Belvedere
Southwold
Hornsea
Withernsea Southwold South
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 40NOT LIFEGUARDED IN 2020
SOUTH EAST
Report area Support centre Beach name Report area Support centre Beach name
Sheerness Highcliffe
Minster-on-Sea Friars Cliff
Leysdown Avon Beach
Minnis Bay Southbourne
West Bay
Fisherman’s Walk
St Mildred's
Manor Steps
Ramsgate Ramsgate Westbrook Bay
Boscombe East
Margate Main
Boscombe West
Botany Bay
East Cliff
Joss Bay East Dorset Poole
Stone Bay Bournemouth East
Broadstairs/Viking Bay Bournemouth West
Ramsgate Durley Chine
Camber Central Alum Chine
Camber West Branksome Chine
Hastings Pelham Canford Cliffs
Rother and Hastings Hastings
Hastings Pier Shore Road
St Leonards
Sandbanks
Bexhill-on-Sea
Swanage
Littlehampton East (East)
Littlehampton East (West)
Bognor Regis
Chichester Chichester Southsea East
Southsea Central
Southsea West
Sandown
RNLI LIFEGUARDS REPORT 2020 41Royal National Lifeboat Institution West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ Email: info@rnli.org.uk RNLI.org Photos: BBC, BBC South Today, Leon Bennett, Daily Mirror, Dominik Fajkiel, RNLI/(Harrison Bates, Jersey Lifeguards, Rhyl Lifeguards, Nigel Millard, Nathan Williams), Mike Lavis, Men’s Fitness magazine, Mark Priem, Callum Robinson, Stylist magazine, Kester Sheppard, Alex Wallace, West Bridgford RNLI/Wendy Jean Hurst The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (CHY 2678 and 20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney
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