With the season well underway, the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat is well prepared, and have had a busy spring, ensuring the boat is ready for action, and training old and new crew for all eventualities. Here are just a few highlights:
The boat was ready on station for Easter weekend, which was un-seasonally sunny and attracted hordes of visitors to the Bay. The start of the season saw us welcome two new trainees to the boat.
On Easter Sunday all available crew undertook their physical assessment. This included a swim to the boat, getting into the boat unaided, and recovering an injured casualty to shore having followed all safety procedures. These exercises are no mean feat when wearing dry suits, lifejackets and safety helmets, but given a beautiful morning to complete the tasks we were pleased to report that all crew managed to successfully complete them.
Early May saw the season’s third new recruit join the crew, and we undertook training in kayak recovery, man overboard, towing, and re-familiarising ourselves with the geography of the fingers around Kettleness.
On the 12th May we were examined for our Maritime Code Compliance, which we were delighted to pass with no issues.
Having been awarded a government grant earlier in the year, we have been ensuring to utilise and practice with our new equipment, which includes a Saviour Medical stretcher and new vac splints. Both allow us to cater for different injury situations more effectively. The new stretcher has been put through its paces both at sea and on land to cover all potential scenarios.
Our first shout of the season came on the 15th May, when a member of the public requested assistance to help her husband who had fallen on rocks at Runswick Bay. The Crew attended the scene and assisted with help from Lifeguard officers. The casualty was found to be uninjured and was recovered to a safe location.
The Runswick Bay Rescue Boat is a voluntarily run service, which relies on grants and community funding to keep running. New crew and anyone interested in supporting the service are welcome to either contact chairman@runswickrescue.org.uk or join us at training. We train on a Sunday morning from 9:30am and Wednesday evening from 18:30pm, meeting at the boat house on Runswick Bay Beach.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our crew, committee and the local community for their ongoing support. www.runswickrescue.org.uk