Youngsters from across the Island and the mainland who belong to the RNLI’s junior organisation, Storm Force, were given a thorough but enjoyable insight into the lifesaving work of the charity at Cowes Lifeboat Station this weekend.
Station volunteers turned out to oversee a wide range of activities; these included learning how to use a VHF radio at sea; hands-on First Aid CPR training on 2 ‘unconscious’ dummies; how to rescue people in the water – with members of the lifeboat crew taking the role of those in need of help and learning how to keep safe when on or near the water.
In addition then there was a chance to climb aboard the station’s Atlantic 85 RIB ‘Sheena Louise’, stationed at the top of the slipway, and receive a briefing from crew members.
To ensure the 35 youngsters attending sampled all 7 activities there was a change-round every 15 minutes, signalled by a pager sound usually associated with a call-out alert.
Lifeboat Visits Officer Penny Maclean said:
“The idea of the day was to introduce the young people to what it was like to be a crew or shore crew. As a result of the frenetic few hours they spent at the station I hope we have encouraged these families to continue to support the RNLI, and perhaps the young people themselves to become volunteers one day.
“And all the 23 Cowes station members who turned out for the event did the station proud, pulling together throughout.”
This view was enthusiastically endorsed by Samuel Fieldhouse, the RNLI’s Young Education Manager for the South East, who took charge of the VHF radio facility.
Also gratifying was the feedback from many of the youngsters, some of whom came from as far afield as London and Horsham; the overwhelming number rated the visit ‘excellent’.
