The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for 178 years. Beach Rescue has only been a part of this for two years, but it has come a long way since its formation as a trial project in early 2001 The RNLI became involved in Beach Rescue as a natural expansion to its role of saving lives at sea. In the past two years the Institution has achieved a lot towards its aim of providing a seamless, coordinated rescue service from the beach through to the open sea.

Originally operating as a trial project in five local authority areas, covering 26 beaches and coordinated by only three full-time staff, Beach Rescue is now a fully established section within the operations department of the RNLI. It now covers 43 beaches, both local authority and privately owned, from within seven areas of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. There are 16 full-time members of staff dedicated to Beach Rescue, seven technicians, 220 seasonal lifeguards, and support from countless others within the RNLI.

The integration with the operations department has gone smoothly, with the transfer of management responsibility from the Beach Rescue manager to the divisional inspector (South) well under way. This enables staff officer operations (Beach Rescue} to concentrate on establishing a closer working relationship with life saving clubs and their respective governing bodies.

The 2002 season ended on 30 September. While the primary aim of the lifeguard service is prevention, the total number of people directly aided was still quite sizeable: 6,971 people from 6,528 incidents.

Most were minor first aid (5,586) but there were some notable rescues (109), assists (472) and major first aid cases (230).Incidents On the afternoon of 11 August at Chapel Porth beach near St Agnes, a large 1.5-2m swell combined with sunny weather led to a busy afternoon for the lifeguards. In the one and a half hour spell between 2.45pm and 4.15pm, 30 people were assisted from rip currents dragging them out to sea. They were helped by lifeguards either on rescue boards or swimming and towing with a rescue tube.

Alcohol was to blame when a man in his mid-20s got into difficulty after jumping from Bournemouth Pier.

The lifeguard used a rescue tube to tow the casualty.

who was weak and vomiting, to the beach. His condition was described as drunk and violent. He refused any further treatment and was taken away by friends.

Lifeguards at St Agnes had to call upon their first aid knowledge on the 28 July when a five-year-old girl collapsed with signs of anaphylactic shock after being stung in the water. She was initially treated by lifeguards while an ambulance was called.Lifeguard exchange programme During the winter of 2002/03, 10 Beach Rescue lifeguards will be representing the RNLI in six locations worldwide, taking part in an official overseas exchange programme. The scheme allows lifeguards to continue lifeguarding through the winter months, and also provides them with new experiences and techniques that they are able to then share with their colleagues in the UK.

The candidates were selected due to their commitment throughout the 2002 season and on their ability to represent the RNLI while overseas.

During the summer of 2003. the RNLI will receive 10 lifeguards from our partner organisations under the exchange agreement. The partner organisations are: Surf Life Saving New South Wales (Australia), Surf Life Saving Queensland (Australia), Surf Life Saving Western Australia, New Zealand Lifeguard Services and Lifeguards Africa.

Rescue watercraft (RWC) Rescue watercraft (jet skis) were on trial in 2002 at Watergate Bay near Newquay and proved to be very effective.

The RWC was used to rescue people in a variety of situations, including the rescue of people cut off by the tide and on one occasion, the rescue of a dog.

Also, bathers and surfers were assisted back to safe water when caught in rip currents and a kite surfer was assisted when he was in difficulty offshore, The general feedback on RWCs was very positive and Mark Oliver who was one of the main operators commented: The great thing about using an RWC is the fact you can do numerous rescues in one go, such as the occasion when six people stuck in a rip current were rescued by one single lifeguard.' Fundraising on beaches Exposure of the RNLI to a different 'target audience' through Beach Rescue presents ah exciting opportunity for the new fundraising and communications department. A national beach education programme presents equally exciting challenges that will require coordination and close inter-departmental liaison to ensure an effective delivery.

In 2002, for the first time, the fundraising department worked closely with Beach Rescue lifeguards on the beach to put on the first ever Surf Turf — a five aside beach football tournament on Bournemouth beach. For the less energetic as the sun went down there was a party on the pier. While enjoying the day, they all raised money to help the RNLI. After this successful start, the fundraising and communications department will continue to work closely with Beach Rescue this year, developing opportunities on the beach, especially with younger people.Future plans A huge amount has been achieved in a very short period of time. This has led to the need for 2003 to be a year of consolidation. There are no plans for further roll out this year. Instead Beach Rescue will concentrate on providing the highest possible standards of service provision at all times. To ensure consistency of service quality, it is essential that any roll out is planned at least 18 months in advance, a luxury that has not been afforded in previous years.

The introduction of two new areas covering some 13 beaches stretched both the operational management and support structure in what was only the second year. The hiatus in roll out during 2003 will be a welcome opportunity for consolidation and the development of core operational procedures and processes on which to base future controlled and well supported roll out.

Planning is still under way for a limited roll out in 2004 to North Cornwall, although a final decision is not required until May 2003 to allow for adequate lead in time. It is envisaged that should the Trustees agree, the consolidation period in 2003 and the sound financial agreements in place with the local authorities should allow a limited expansion to take place in 2004.

Club and volunteer development The RNLI remains committed to ensuring the continued development of the voluntary lifesaving club structure. The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) have been providing voluntary lifesaving cover on beaches around the coast for up to 50 years. While many clubs' traditional patrolling activities have decreased in recent times, there are still lots of clubs providing essential cover at weekends and other busy periods throughout the summer months as well as safety cover at many water-based events. The majority of paid beach lifeguards have learnt their trade through the clubs in a system which develops skills in children as young as eight years old. The future of iifeguarding depends on the infrastructure of voluntary lifesaving clubs.

With 2003 as a year of consolidation, this will provide the RNLI, in cooperation with the RLSS and SLSA, the opportunity of implementing its volunteer development strategy. The aim of this is to enable local voluntary lifesaving clubs to assist with the operation of their beach lifeguard service, whether it be in the form of voluntary patrols at weekends or other busy periods or through assistance with lifesaving skills training.

The RNLI places great importance on being able to provide the highest possible quality of service and if this is not possible, it is better to delay any service launch until such a time as this can be assured. The RNLI's corporate services director, Ian Ventham, summed up the situation; 'The RNLI remains committed to developing its Beach Rescue lifeguarding service which it has run successfully in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset over the past two years.

It has already been decided not to expand the service in 2003 to allow time for the service to bed-in, and for proper systems and processes to be developed.'.