ONCE many life-boatmen considered it an unlucky gift to swim too well but since those days things have changed. For well over a year now the R.N.L.I, has been evaluating the use of swimmers from life-boats, as well as the kind of special equipment they will need. Now for the first time a team of three swimmers has become operational, although the evaluation trials are still continuing. They are Mr. Jeff David and Mr. Philip Every, both policemen, and Dr. Peter Jones. All are members of the Port Talbot IRB crew.

To mark the occasion a joint demonstrationwas arranged with the Port Talbot IRB and the Mumbles life-boat showing the uses of swimmers from a life-boat. The first rescue involved swimmer with a life-line going to the aid of 'casualty' trapped on the rocks. While the casualty was brought back to the life-boat the kiss of life was administered while still in the water. A second rescue showed a swimmer from the Port Talbot IRB going to the aid of man trapped under a capsized dinghy.

The use of swimmers from life-boats will enable coxswains to react more flexibly to certain situations. It is obviously much simpler to use a swimmer when a life-boat is unable manoeuvre close enough or with enough speed to a casualty. On rocky coastlines where the surf is heavy a life-boat often has to stand off while another rescue technique is employed.

Now all that needs to be done is to anchor the life-boat off and the swimmer with a radius 150 yards can reach a casualty and be hauled back.

The training required to qualify as a swimmer is extremely stringent. A swimmer has to hold the gold personal survival award of the Amateur Swimming Association, the bronze medallion of the Royal Life-Saving Society, and has to satisfy a written examination set by the R.N.L.I. He has to submit to a medical examination and re-qualify in each of these requirements every three years. A qualified swimmer has to be able to dress within 90 seconds.

While the concept of swimmers is still under evaluation certain conditions have been laid down for certain wind and sea conditions.

Also the equipment a swimmer needs has be carefully chosen. The items of equipment are: 1—A mini flare pack. There is a danger of the swimmer becoming separated from a lifeboat or IRB should the swimmer have to slip his swimmer line or the rescue boat suffer an engine failure. The risk of becoming separated in strong winds is very great.

2—Special wet suit with a hood.

3—Neoprene gloves, to keep the hands warm and enable the swimmer to work with ropes, release shackles, etc.

4—Fins and some form of socks.

5—Weight belt. Wet suits give swimmers additional buoyancy making them float too high in the water for efficient swimming.

Weight belts weigh 8 to 10 Ib. and have quick release mechanism.

6—Knife strapped to leg.7—A gas inflatable life-jacket with strong harness and swimmer line quick release.

A life-jacket light is incorporated which can be actuated when the jacket is open or folded.

8—A torpedo buoy will be supplied. These buoys can support a casualty in the water unattended, provided he is conscious.—A.B..