Herts Canoe Lifeguards

Herts Canoe Lifeguards have a new website.

Check it out http://www.hclifeguards.co.uk/

A cloudy day over Exmouth

I came across this photo in my collection from this summer. Bit of a cloudy day looking up towards the Exmouth Docks. In the foreground you can see lots of people walking on water! This is known as stand up paddle boarding (SUP boarding) it has become very popular over the past year and thanks to the local surf shop Tad and it is growing in popularity each week.

The last day of the 2009 season

For the four beaches in East Devon yesterday was the last day we patrol this year.

It was an amazing season and everyone is looking forward to next year.

Even on our last day we did one rescue returning a kite surfer back to the beach using our RWC after they could not relaunch their kite from the water.

There are still many beaches that have Lifeguards on them through september and some of the more popular beaches stay lifeguarded at weekends in to october.

If your not at a Lifeguarded beach over the winter and you do see someone in difficulty make sure you dial 999 ans ask for the coastguard. Try to remember the 3 p words when calling. People, position and problem. People- who is in trouble male, female, age swimmer not swimmer. Position- give the best description of the location you can. Problem- what is the problem an inflatable drifting out or a swimmer in difficulty.

Have a good winter!

Exmouth RNLI Lifeboat Day

Tomorrow is Exmouth Lifeboat Day.

The All Weather Lifeboat will be moored up at the docks for people to view it. The ILB will also be about for the public to view, as will the new ALB tractor.

At the new Lifeboat Station there will be a whole host of people to chat to from sea safety experts to Lifeguards, Lifeboat men and women and fundraisers.

At around 2PM there will be a rescue demonstration with Both Exmouth Lifeboats and the Lifeguards.

The past week.

Things have been fairly quiet for the Lifeguards in East Devon over the past couple of weeks. The normal minor first aids, lost children and a few kite rescues have kept us busy.

Next week we have another beach safety talk in Exmouth for some cadets, which will hopefully involve a demo with Exmouth ILB.

A week tomorrow we also have Exmouth Lifeboat day which will be based at the new boat house at Foxholes.

Only two weeks of our season left this sunday!

Kite surfer rescue.

This year it seams the standard of kite surfers at Exmouth Seafront is higher than last. (At this point last season I am sure we had rescued more than we currently have this season.) We have still had a fair few rescues to do though!

Last week just as we were packing down at 1745 to finish at 1800 I spotted a kite surfer in difficulty. The kite surfers kite had got tangled in seaweed. This made it very difficult for them to relaunch the kite from the water. The incoming tide and wind started to pull the kite surfer towards the entrance to Exmouth Docks, a dangerous place to be when your in the water.

With the Kite surfer drifting towards the rocks and groynes at the entrance to the docks we decided to launch our RWC to go to their aid.

As it was 17.45 we were just taking the RWC off the beach to wash and run it down, so it was launched from the Exmouth ILB slipway. Once on scene with the kite surfer they packed their kit down. The kite surfer then climbed on to the rescue sled and secured their kit. We were then able to bring them back to the safety of the beach near the Octagon, where one of the Lifeguards had ran down from our Lifeguard hut to assist with the rescue.

School holidays start next week for most children so if the weather is good we could start to get very busy.

Peak season starts

From this morning Sandy Bay, Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren will have Lifeguards on them from 10AM to 6PM untill the Sunday 6th September.

There is a press release from the RNLI talking about the increased Lifeguard patrols featured on the BBC news website here.

Remember if you are going to a Lifeguarded beach swim between the red and yellow flags, don’t go in the water if you see a red flag flying and stay between the black and white flags if you are surfing.

The weekend.

The weather never really got fantastic in Exmouth this weekend with the odd shower keeping the numbers of people on the beach down.

Saturday was the busier day for the Lifeguards in Exmouth. We had the RWC patrolling on the water for 3 hours in the afternoon due to the strong outgoing tide. Whilst the RWC was on the water 2 kite surfers were assisted when they were struggling to relaunch their kites from the water. It seems this year the kite surfers have got a lot better and are not needing as much assistance from us, which is great. The Duck pond area is a better place to learn to kitesurf than Exmouth sea front and it seems beginners are staying in the duck pond.

Also whilst out on patrol I was waved down by a jet ski just off the entrance to the docks. They had broken down and were drifting out with the tide, the boats coming in to the estuary and kitesurfers were having to dodge the unpowered craft. I stood by them until Exmouth ILB was launched. The ILB towed the jet ski back to their trailer up the river.

It is important to always wear a lifejacket and take a means of communication with you when out on any craft, a mobile phone or preferably a VHF radio is best, so if you do get in to trouble you have a way of contacting the Coastguard.

Tomorrow is competency testing for the peak season Lifeguards. All the new Lifeguards who start patrolling full time on Saturday will do a competency test involving board and tube rescues and demonstrate CPR.

Teignmouth, Dawlish Warren and Sandy Bay will have Lifeguards on the beach 10am to 6pm from this Saturday 4th July until September.

Barbeque safety

Today one of the watches from Exmouth Fire Service came down to the beach in their fire engine to offer safety advise along with the RNLI Lifeguards and Exmouth Beach Rescue Volunteer Club to members of the public on the beach with Barbeques. Hot barbeques can present a few dangers. Some of which have occurred at Exmouth.

People often dispose of their barbeques in the nearest bin, which then promptly sets on fire! Do not put hot barbeques in any bin! If you do see any smoke coming from any of the bins call 999 and ask for the Fire Service. Barbeques should also not be used on the dry grass around the dunes which could easily catch alight.

Other dangers associated with barbeques is people getting burnt. People are normally quiet careful of the barbeque its self but the sand around and under the barbeque its self can be very very hot and cause bad burns.

If you do get burnt on the beach seek the attention of the Lifeguards and we will come to you assistance and call for an Ambulance if required.

We are lucky in Exmouth that on the Maer there are designated barbeque areas that have raised metal barbeque platforms which are a good way to have a barbeque in a public space.

Stay safe, happy barbequing while the weather is good!

Random photographs.

Looking through my photographs tonight I have a load of random photos of random things. I will upload them and post them up tomorrow.

I worked at Teignmouth today. It was very quiet. The highlight of the day was a large gathering of Morris Dancers behind the Teignmouth North Lifeguard unit. Yes I do have photographs of them!