Peak season hits for RNLI Lifeguards around Bournemouth and Poole
Beaches across the region will see an increase in the lifeguard service from Saturday 10 July as the RNLI Lifeguards begin their peak season.
The RNLI are predicting this summer to be one of the busiest ever, after an increase in ‘staycations’.
Towns such as Bournemouth and Poole are key tourism hotspots and are expected to have thousands of visitors over the summer holidays.
Peak season for the RNLI lifeguards begins on Saturday 10 July, with beaches seeing a lifeguard patrol seven days a week on all RNLI patrolled beaches.
The beaches patrolled by RNLI Lifeguards this summer will be: Swanage, Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs, Branksome Chine, Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Bournemouth West, Bournemouth East, East Cliff, Boscombe West, Boscombe East, Manor Steps, Fisherman’s Walk, Southbourne, Highcliffe, Avon Beach and Friar’s Cliff.
All beaches will operate a lifeguard service from 10am – 6pm daily.
To help people prepare for a beach trip this summer, the RNLI and HM Coastguard have launched their new Beach Safety campaign.
The key safety advice is:
- Visit a lifeguarded beach & swim between the red and yellow flags
- If you get into trouble Float to Live – lie on your back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about
- Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard
Guy Addington, Regional Water Safety Lead (South East) says:
‘We are in the lead up to a very busy summer and our key priority is to keep people safe at the beaches. If you plan to go to a beach this summer, we ask that you choose a lifeguarded beach so that our lifeguards can assist you if you were to get into trouble in the water.’
‘Each lifeguarded beach will have red and yellow flags which indicate where is the best place to swim and also ensures you are in good view of the lifeguards. We ask that you swim in the area between these red and yellow flags to keep yourself in as safe a position as possible.’
‘We advise that you do not use inflatable toys at the beach as these are designed for pools and are not designed to be used in areas where tide and winds can sweep you out to sea in seconds.’
‘The RNLI lifeguards are there to give guidance and advise the public on how best to enjoy the beach in a safe manner. If any doubt when at the seaside, check in at your local lifeguard hut, where the lifeguards will be on hand to help.’
For further information on the beach safety campaign visit: RNLI.org/BeachUK2021
A full list of RNLI lifeguarded beaches can be found here: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Sarah Beck, Media Engagement Placement on 07929 673280 or [email protected] or Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer on 07785 296252 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
RNLI online
For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.