RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS REPORT 2019 This photo: June 1983 – The RNLI’s first Tyne class City of London 47-001 on trials at Front cover photo: April 2019 – The last of the Tyne class lifeboats Annie Blaker 47-035 with her devoted Wicklow crew

2 FAREWELL TO THE TYNE

On Sunday 28 April 2019 at 1.30pm, the last of our Tyne class all-weather lifeboats made her final launch.

Annie Blaker (shown on the front cover) 1982–2019 TYNE THE OF 37 YEARS devoted 30 years to saving lives at sea at

XXXXXX XXXX Wicklow and was very much part of 47-000 40 the team. TYNE CLASS ‘She has been as much a part of the crew LIFEBOATS as any volunteer that passed through our FACTS TYNE BUILT doors and she has earned her retirement,’ ‘Her personality? First Tyne says Des Davitt, Lifeboat Operations Manager ON1074 (47-001) City of London for Wicklow RNLI. Rock solid’ Built 1982 With a top speed of 18 knots, the Tyne CONNIE O’GARA Selsey Lifeboat Station 14,009 was twice as fast as the motor lifeboats she CREW MEMBER AND DEPUTY 1983–2006 LAUNCHES was designed to replace, revolutionising MECHANIC, WICKLOW LIFEBOAT lifesaving at sea. She was introduced to the Last Tyne fleet in 1982 and was the RNLI’s first fast ON1153 (47-035) Annie Blaker slipway lifeboat. Built 1989 2,615 LIVES ‘A reliable big sister, Wicklow Lifeboat Station 1989–2019 SAVED ‘A HUGE LEAP’ always there waiting

Speaking about the first time he stepped to help’ • The Tyne was the first fast onboard the Tyne, Ciarán Doyle, Second slipway (FSB1). 15,038 TOMMY DOVER Coxswain at Wicklow, says: PRESS OFFICER, WICKLOW LIFEBOAT • Top speed: 18 knots PEOPLE ‘I had been lifeboat crew for 5 years, and Twice as fast as the lifeboats RESCUED then suddenly this spaceship arrived! I looked she replaced. OR HELPED in it and saw all these electronics, engine • Named after control systems, nothing like we were used ‘Very much a quart in ex-Tynemouth Coxswain to. It was a huge leap.’ Paulin Denham Christie 23 After 37 years of saving lives at sea, the a pint pot’ Paulin was a big part of the fast Tyne has been replaced by our Tamar and slipway boat project. ANIMALS Shannon class all-weather lifeboats as part REAR ADMIRAL WJ GRAHAM RESCUED

XXXXXX XXXX of the RNLI’s plans for a faster and more RNLI DIRECTOR IN 1982 47-000 OR HELPED efficient 25-knot lifeboat fleet.

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 3 25

08 27 16 CONTENTS

03 Farewell to the Tyne 22 Beach management statistics A tribute to 37 years of lifesaving Improving the safety of our beaches 05 Foreword 23 statistics A look back at 2019 with RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie Drowning prevention in the UK and Ireland 06 Data collection 25 Youth education statistics How we collect incident data Working to keep young people safe 06 Operational aims 27 Flood rescue statistics Our performance vs. our aims Our flood rescue capacity 06 Definitions 28 International statistics A glossary of terms used in report Drowning prevention on a global scale 08 Lifeboat statistics 31 RNLI rescue map Lifesaving at our stations in 2019 Our lifesaving locations and lifeboats as at December 2019 16 statistics Lifesaving on the beach in 2019

4 FOREWORD

drowning rates are significant, and work with like-minded organisations to raise awareness of the problem to address it together. Our charity prevented people getting into trouble in the first place too. We reached millions with our Float to Live message and more people came forward to tell us that it helped to save their lives. We delivered Swim Safe lessons to 62,696 children (46,588 in 2018) and spoke with thousands more adults and children about water safety. 81% of the UK population RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a now consider safety important when in and 24-hour service in the UK around the water, with average 2019 results and Ireland, and our seasonal look higher than all previous years measured. The after people on busy beaches. Our in-house figure is 83% for the Irish population. experts and specially trained volunteers also support flood rescue throughout the UK. We strengthened lifesaving partnerships with local authorities, governments and like- In 2019, our volunteer lifeboat crews aided minded organisations across the UK, Ireland 9,379 people, with our lifeguards aiding a and around the world. We also increased the further 29,334 (9,412 and 32,207 in 2018 impact of our drowning prevention work with respectively). Together, they saved the lives priority countries and continued to influence We are the RNLI: of 374 people (329 in 2018). world leaders and global policy. Wherever drowning occurs, we aim to The charity that saves lives at sea defeat it. With your support, the RNLI can break the drowning chain and make early Every day of the year, people of all backgrounds get into danger in interventions by influencing, supervising and the water. It's a problem we're here to tackle. educating people. We're here to explain the risks, share safety knowledge and rescue We work with partners to understand the those people whose lives are in danger. risks and offer innovative solutions – and our Mark Dowie We're here to work with others to make the water a safer place Water Safety teams share this knowledge RNLI Chief Executive for everyone. with anyone using the water to keep them We're here to prevent tragedies inshore and offshore. safer. We share that expertise internationally And with your help, we always will be. too. We give support to countries where

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 5 DATA OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS COLLECTION AIMS

Incident data is collected from lifeboat crews CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS • reach any beach casualty up to 300m LIFEGUARDS through an electronic return of service. from shore, within the red and yellow Lifeguards submit both electronic records and The RNLI saves lives at sea throughout the flags, on RNLI lifeguard-patrolled Animals – when a lifeguard rescues or assists paper forms whilst we expand the user base UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands beaches within 3½ minutes. an animal to safety. of our Lifesaving Activity Reporting system by providing: It is not cost-effective to measure the Anti-social behaviour – when a lifeguard (LSAR), which captures data electronically. average response time but our risk • a strategically located fleet of all-weather takes action to deal with anti-social The Flood Rescue Team complete paper assessment process, fitness standards and lifeboats, which are available at all times, behaviour. incident forms. These returns are entered, operational configuration of the lifeguard and tactically placed inshore craft, which Assistance – where a lifeguard aids a person processed, checked and validated at the service are all designed to achieve this are subject to weather limitations in the sea who is at low risk but, if left, would RNLI Support Centre in Poole by the Service strategic performance standard. • a lifeguard service on a seasonal basis be at increased risk. Information Section. This incident data • deliver clear, straightforward safety • safety education and accident prevention provides the basis for the statistics in advice and products that positively Beach visitors – the number of beach • a flood rescue capability available for this report. influence behaviour, measured against visitors is assessed by recording an estimate, deployment to a defined standard of For the RNLI’s international projects, agreed benchmarks every 2 hours, of the number of beach users performance, commensurate with project partners are responsible for • maintain the capability to deploy up to within the lifeguard patrol area, those in the resources available, using trained collecting, analysing and reporting summary 4 Type B flood rescue teams the water between the red and yellow flags, and competent people who, wherever data. Though the RNLI aims to verify this There was 1 deployment in 2019 and and those in the water using surf and other possible, are volunteers. data through spot-checking, the data is no people assisted. In October 2019, craft between the black and white flags. The not owned by the RNLI and is not directly capacity was reduced to 2 Type B teams. highest number for each category each day is comparable to RNLI operational statistics STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE then used to obtain the overall number. from the UK and Ireland. STANDARDS Body recovery – where a lifeguard responds All data in this report is correct as at 13 88.4% to an incident knowing that they will be February 2020. Figures may rise in other We aim to: OF CASUALTIES required to recover a body. This includes publications or articles produced using a WITHIN 10NM those in the sea or on land. • achieve an average launch time of 10 newer dataset. REACHED minutes from notification to the RNLI WITHIN 30 MINS Casualty care – where a lifeguard formally • reach all notified casualties where a assesses and/or treats a casualty according to risk to life exists, in all weathers, out to RNLI casualty care protocols. a maximum of 100 nautical miles False alarm – when a lifeguard responds to 10 MINS • reach 90% of all casualties within 30 46,630 an incident where a person is believed to be minutes from launch and within 10 PEOPLE RECEIVED in difficulty but upon arrival it is confirmed AVERAGE nautical miles of the coast, ADVICE AND PRODUCTS they do not require assistance. LAUNCH TIME in all weathers, where there is an FROM THE WATER SAFETY EVENTS TEAM Incident – any situation that RNLI lifeguards identified need are involved in.

6 Incident action – the number of different Search – an organised search, with other who would otherwise have died. in community ponds or portable swimming ways that lifeguards deal with incidents. Any search and rescue units, for a missing person Incidents – flood incidents are usually the pools in Bangladesh. one casualty could receive multiple actions either at sea or on land. result of specific events, such as storms. If the Water safety lessons – formal sessions by lifeguards. Actions where no people are event cannot be associated with a specific delivered to schoolchildren in a school involved are also included. event, a flood incident can potentially be setting, based on the 10 standard water Life saved – where an intervention by the LIFEBOATS defined through the establishment of the safety messages included in the RNLI RNLI, another emergency service and/or emergency management command structure Aquatic Survival Manual. Or more informal other third party saves the life of a casualty Crew assemblies – where the crew arrive (Gold/Silver/Bronze). community meetings covering the same who would otherwise have died. at station and are subsequently stood down Rescue – where the rescuer responds to a content in villages near to the schools visited. Minor first aid – where a lifeguard treats because the launch has been cancelled. person at risk and physically returns them to a casualty due to sickness or injury who is Life saved – where an intervention by the a place of safety or transfers them to another at low or no risk but requires treatment to RNLI, another emergency service and/or rescue craft/asset. ensure the risk does not increase. other third party saves the life of a casualty Standby – when flood rescue teams are Missing/found – where a lifeguard assists in who would otherwise have died. requested to go to a heightened state of the location of children separated from their People aided – all people aided by RNLI preparedness. Some or all of the team parents/guardians, or other people who have lifeboat crews where lives are saved and assemble to prepare kit and/or are on been found or reported missing, including people are assisted or rescued. standby at base or home. those who are known to be missing as a result Taskings – the sum of launches and crew of an incident in or on the water. assemblies as a result of being tasked to INTERNATIONAL Near miss – when a lifeguard observes an an incident. incident, event or condition that does not First aid actions – these include both minor cause death or serious injury but has the and major casualty care. In an overseas potential to do so. FLOOD RESCUE context, the full RNLI casualty care protocols Non-aquatic assistance – when a lifeguard cannot always be adhered to, particularly assists a person not in the water. Assistance – where the rescuer aids a person where there is no effective ambulance service Other – anything else that does not fit into who is at low risk but, if left, would be at or sufficient standards of emergency referral the specified categories. increased risk. services. 124 PEOPLE WERE SEEN People aided – the total number of people Community tasking – where a lifeboat Rescue – where a lifeguard responds to a AND ADVISED AS PART that lifeguards have assisted. station or lifeguard unit is tasked to assist person at risk and physically returns them OF THE RNLI'S ‘ADVICE ONBOARD’ SERVICE Preventative action – any action taken by with a flood incident. to shore. This includes incidents where if a a lifeguard that provides advice, guidance or Deployment – where flood rescue team lifeguard had not intervened, a life would direction to a person that mitigates members depart from their base either to the have been lost. against risk. incident or to a strategic holding area (SHA). Survival swimming – two different Rescue – where a lifeguard responds to a Flood Rescue Team (FRT) tasking – one of swimming programmes implemented in 49 different locations: the RNLI Aquatic Survival person at risk and physically returns them the designated flood rescue assets. COMMUNITY Swimming Programme delivered in natural to shore or transfers them to another Life saved – where an intervention by the LIFESAVING PLANS open water bodies; and the registered rescue craft. RNLI, another emergency service and/or WERE DEVELOPED trademark programme SwimSafe delivered other third party saves the life of a casualty

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 7 Lifeboat incident headlines

220 LIVES SAVED

856 9,797 8,941 CREW TOTAL LAUNCHES ASSEMBLIES TASKINGS 8 75,379 3,614 LAUNCHES IN CREW HOURS AT SEA DARKNESS

16,779 6,635 VESSEL HOURS CREW USED AT SEA

FIGURES EXCLUDE TRAINING EXERCISES.

9,379 PEOPLE AIDED RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 9 Operational aims

88.4% 10 MINS OF CASUALTIES AVERAGE WITHIN 10NM LAUNCH TIME REACHED WITHIN 30 MINS

10 Launches

A CLASS B CLASS D CLASS NUMBER USED: 4 NUMBER USED: 124 NUMBER USED: 147 LAUNCHES: 15 LAUNCHES: 2,908 D-000 LAUNCHES: 2,502

E CLASS HOVERCRAFT MERSEY

NUMBER USED: 5 NUMBER USED: 7 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX NUMBER USED: 23 XXXXXXXXXX LAUNCHES: 751 LAUNCHES: 74 12-00 LAUNCHES: 196

OTHER BOAT RWC SEVERN

XXXXXXXXXXXX RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER NUMBER USED: 3 NUMBER USED: 3 NUMBER USED: 43

RWC-000 LAUNCHES: 3 LAUNCHES: 26 17-00 LAUNCHES: 870

SHANNON TAMAR TRENT

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER NUMBER USED: 33 NUMBER USED: 27 NUMBER USED: 35 LAUNCHES: 408 LAUNCHES: 505 14-00 LAUNCHES: 663

TYNE XP BOAT Y BOAT

XXXXXX XXXX NUMBER USED: 1 NUMBER USED: 2 NUMBER USED: 4 47-000 LAUNCHES: 2 LAUNCHES: 3 LAUNCHES: 15

RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER TOTAL NUMBER USED: 461 LAUNCHES: 8,941 D-000

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 11 Lifeboat headlines by region

WALES AND WEST SCOTLAND LAUNCHES 1,534 LAUNCHES 1,308 LIVES SAVED 60 LIVES SAVED 17 PEOPLE AIDED 1,602 PEOPLE AIDED 1,335 CREW ASSEMBLIES 233 CREW ASSEMBLIES 113 CREW HOURS 10,627 CREW HOURS 12,593 VESSEL HOURS 2,289 VESSEL HOURS 2,295

IRELAND NORTH AND EAST ENGLAND LAUNCHES 1,089 LAUNCHES 1,157 LIVES SAVED 9 LIVES SAVED 37 PEOPLE AIDED 1,406 PEOPLE AIDED 1,322 CREW ASSEMBLIES 102 CREW ASSEMBLIES 141 CREW HOURS 10,014 CREW HOURS 14,439 VESSEL HOURS 1,944 VESSEL HOURS 4,126

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND LAUNCHES 1,345 LAUNCHES 2,508 LIVES SAVED 23 LIVES SAVED 74 PEOPLE AIDED 1,692 PEOPLE AIDED 2,022 CREW ASSEMBLIES 101 CREW ASSEMBLIES 166 CREW HOURS 9,887 CREW HOURS 17,822 VESSEL HOURS 2,022 VESSEL HOURS 4,104

12 Distances to casualties 3 4

4 ALL-WEATHER 6 RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER LIFEBOAT (ALB) 10 LAUNCHES 7 32 43 93 225 342 1,590 61+ NM 0–6 NM 7–10 NM 11–15 NM 21–25 NM NM 41–45 51–55 NM 16–20 NM 31–35 NM 26–30 NM 36–40 NM 46–50 NM

5,287 252 75 16 1 1 2 INSHORE LIFEBOAT 0 (ILB) LAUNCHES 0 ILBS INCLUDE INSHORE RESCUE HOVERCRAFT 0 (IRH) AND RESCUE (RWC)

LIFEBOAT STOOD DOWN BEFORE REACHING CASUALTY: ALB 283 ILB 606 0 NOT RECORDED: ALB 3 ILB 13 0 Distances to casualties are measured from the lifeboat station as the crow flies.

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 13 Lifeboats on exercise Launches to animals

16,949 EXERCISES 186 AFLOAT ANIMALS

177,320 157 HOURS OF MOST COMMON CREW ANIMAL CASUALTY TRAINING AFLOAT DOGS

14 Proportion of lifeboat incident activity by lifeboat type and sea state 100% 80% 60% CUMULATIVE PERCENTAGE 40% 20%

SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE SEA STATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

INSHORE LIFEBOAT (ILB) RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER ALL-WEATHER LIFEBOAT (ALB)

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 15 Lifeguard incident headlines

154 LIVES SAVED

21,289 3,890,982 17,356 INCIDENT PREVENTATIVE INCIDENTS ACTIONS ACTIONS

16 18,609,232 25,525 1,737 NUMBER OF DAYS NUMBER OF TOTAL BEACH ON DUTY ACROSS LIFEGUARDS VISITORS ALL BEACHES ON PATROL

248 100% 70 DELIVERY INCIDENTS NUMBER OF AGAINST ON AVERAGE LIFEGUARD UNITS CONTRACT PER UNIT

29,334 PEOPLE AIDED

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 17 Lifeguard actions

154 2,822 3,208 LIVES SAVED RESCUES ASSISTANCE GIVEN

1,352 9,979 214 1,785 CASUALTY MINOR SEARCHES MISSING/ CARE FIRST AID FOUND

18 176 NON-AQUATIC 1,002 59 ASSISTANCE NEAR MISSES FALSE ALARMS GIVEN

251 139 148 21,289 ANTI-SOCIAL OTHER ANIMALS TOTAL BEHAVIOUR RESCUED ACTIONS

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 19 20

DISTANCE FROM WATER’S EDGE (M) Lifeguard distance to casualties

0–50 51–200 201–300 300+ WITHIN FLAGS LOWEST DANGER TO CASUALTY TO DANGER LOWEST PRESENTS RESCUER FROM DISTANCE 15.5% 0.2% 5.3% 0.4% 27.1% 8.2% 0.4% 0.9% 0–50 MODERATE DANGER TO CASUALTY PRESENTS RESCUER FROM DISTANCE DISTANCE FROM LIFEGUARD UNIT (M) UNIT LIFEGUARD FROM DISTANCE 10.7% 0.8% 9.6% 51–200 1% 3.5% 3.9% 201–500 1.4% 1% HIGHEST DANGER TO CASUALTY TO DANGER HIGHEST PRESENTS RESCUER FROM DISTANCE 501–1,000 0.6% 1.4% 1.6% 2% 0.8% 0.3% 1.4% 2% 1,000+ Casualty care

1,781 1,835

TOTAL INCIDENTS REQUIRING CASUALTY CARE TOTAL PEOPLE NEEDING CASUALTY CARE

Incidents with casualty care Incidents with casualty care People requiring casualty care People requiring casualty care People - Big Sick (time-critical) People - Big Sick (time-critical) People - Little Sick (not time-critical) People - Little Sick (not time-critical)

1,346

RNLB JOCK AND ANNIE SLATER 1,329 418 507 215 292 928

468

CASUALTY CARE GIVEN BY LIFEBOAT CREWS CASUALTY CARE GIVEN BY LIFEGUARDS

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 21 BEACH MANAGEMENT STATISTICS

The RNLI lifeguard service endeavours to BEACH SAFETY SIGNAGE provide services based on beach safety assessments and that meet best practice standards. Effective and efficient beach 2019 saw the continued rollout of beach management is a core organisational operators installing the RNLl's national competency that drives service delivery. guideline beach safety signage system. We also provide advice and support to Signage audit reports were provided tor 14 beach operators on a national and non-RNLI beaches, bringing the total number international basis. audited to 276. The RNLI's publication A Guide to Beach Safety Signs, Symbols and Flags is available as a self-help guide to all beach BEACH SAFETY ASSESSMENT operators and the RNLI can provide local CONSULTANCY SERVICE authorities with further assistance and advice through beach safety signage audits. The RNLI lifeguard service offers a free coastal beach safety assessment consultancy service to all local authorities and private PUBLIC RESCUE EQUIPMENT beach owners. The assessment process is designed to help facilitate a comprehensive Following on from the RNLI's publication A beach safety management strategy by Guide to Coastal Public Rescue Equipment, highlighting hazards and assessing ratings and public rescue equipment audit reports were suggested control measures. The number of provided tor 9 non-RNLI beaches. This brings non-RNLI beaches assessed in 2019 was 12, the total number of non-RNLI beaches that bringing the total number assessed to 465. have now benefited from this service to 169. In addition to the external consultancy The publication is also available to beach service, a full beach safety assessment is operators as a self-help guide. completed tor each RNLI lifeguarded beach every 5 years, with annual reviews carried out 14 in between by the local teams. Figures shown 12 BEACH SAFETY 9 below do not include internal assessments. PUBLIC RESCUE INITIAL SIGNAGE EQUIPMENT BEACH SAFETY ASSESSMENTS AUDITS AUDITS

22 WATER SAFETY STATISTICS

During 2019, the Water Safety Team conversations they have with members of the COMMERCIAL FISHING Region Number of CLPs undertook a range of programmes delivering public at events they are responsible for. In safety advice and interventions across a 2019, 46,630 people received some form of Wales and West England 7 range of activities. safety advice from team members. Commercial fishing is recognised as a dangerous profession, and the RNLI is The WellPoint health kiosk was taken South West England 7 to dive centres and dive shows again, working hard to reduce the number of LIFEJACKETS commercial fishermen who lose their lives encouraging divers to view their health as the South East England 5 most important part of their kit before diving. each year. During 2019, we had conversations Lifejackets save lives. Our lifeboat crews with approximately 2,100 commercial The roll-out of the Waterside Responder Scotland 18 Scheme continued in partnership with local have been wearing them since the 19th fishermen at exhibitions and directly at ports. fire services. The scheme trains staff in century and the RNLI has been encouraging North East England 4 venues such as waterside pubs on how to use lifejacket use for many years. We offer the COMMUNITY LIFESAVING PLANS throw lines and become first responders in public expert advice on lifejackets through Ireland and the 8 situations where people find themselves in our free lifejacket checks, dedicated clinics Isle of Man and other events. In 2019, we recorded Community lifesaving plans (CLPs) are the the water near their venues. 49 (covering 53 Total of CLPs Our free Text for Tide service remained checks of 3,868 lifejackets to make sure key mechanism for RNLI communities to lifeboat stations) popular and received an increase in texts they were serviceable. plan and deliver water safety actions at a during 2019. The service provides safe local level. Each plan is owned and looked crossing times to members of the public after by the local community and is managed ADVICE ONBOARD wanting to travel to Cramond Island near by the volunteer water safety officer. CLPs Edinburgh and Coney Island in Co Sligo, drive behaviour in that community to bring which both get completely cut off by the tide. The RNLI offers a free, friendly and partnerships together and tackle risks. They confidential service known as Advice are integrated into a lifeboat station to look Onboard that looks at the safety aspects of at all available lifesaving assets. INDIVIDUAL ADVICE almost any type of leisure craft. The face-to- Each CLP goes through a set of phases to face sessions are conducted by our highly- be developed. Through the monitoring and The RNLI has around 500 active water trained volunteers and take place onboard reporting system, we can identify planned safety volunteers who are specially trained the owners’ craft. This service is available in activity against actual activity and analyse to provide safety advice on a wide range of all parts of the UK and Ireland and saw 124 where resources are linked to priority risk activities. The Water Safety Events Team people undertake an Advice Onboard session areas around the UK and Ireland. attends national and regional events as well in 2019. as supporting volunteers at local events. The team records the number of face-to-face

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 23 RESPECT THE WATER • RNLI Escape Room at the Royal Welsh Show and much more. • Paid media across social, outdoor, video The key aims of the Respect the Water on demand, digital radio, pay-per-click campaign in 2019 were to arm people with (PPC) and cinema reached 85% and 58% the knowledge of the ‘Float To Live’ message, of males aged 15-29 years in the UK and increase relevancy among the target audience Ireland respectively. and build confidence on how to float.

FLOAT TO LIVE IMPACT 2019 SUCCESSES Our main measure of success is real world • 76% of young men aged 16–39 years in impact and we’re extremely proud that in Ireland and 69% of young men in the UK 2019, 11 people came forward to say that agreed the campaign was relevant our ‘Float To Live’ advice helped save their to them. life. This demonstrates how vital the Respect • Two major publicity campaign launches the Water campaign is as we work towards Respect the reached 37M people in May and 37.5M our goal of reducing coastal drowning. Water campaign people in August. • New bilingual resources for Wales reached 74.5M were produced to help us engage with Welsh-speaking audiences. These were people in May extremely well received with all items and August in high demand and rated more helpful than their English equivalents. 88% of communities ordering launch packs in Wales opted for a bilingual pack instead of an English pack. And nearly 40 regional partners helped share the bilingual 124 #FloatToLive #ArnofiwchiFyw messaging PEOPLE WERE SEEN AND ADVISED AS PART OF OUR with their audiences online. ADVICE ONBOARD SERVICE • Regional activity around the coast included: ‘I realised it wasn’t about • the Lifeshack at Victorious Festival swimming for my life, • Float To Live illumination at Blackpool it was literally about • media coverage and engagement at relaxing to save my life.’ 46,630 the National Services Day in Dublin PEOPLE RECEIVED • working in partnership with the SURFER RUTH OSBORNE ADVICE AND PRODUCTS GAA at the All Ireland Semi Final WHO IS IN NO DOUBT THAT THE RNLI'S FROM THE WATER at Croke Park FLOAT TO LIVE ADVICE SAVED HER LIFE. SAFETY EVENTS TEAM

24 YOUTH EDUCATION STATISTICS OVER 600,000 YOUNG PEOPLE RAISING AWARENESS • volunteer visits to schools and attended our outdoor sessions. And for the youth groups second year, Swim Safe was delivered indoors ENGAGED The Youth Education programme aims to • work with safety centres and with 40,642 participants at 101 Everyone increase awareness of the RNLI brand and the Lifeskill events Active sites across England. risks children and young people face in, on • and partnerships with local authorities Of the returning participants, 76% and around water. The activities are targeted and other local safety providers including remembered the messaging from the at young people as well as parents, teachers the fire service and police. previous year. In addition, we were able and youth leaders. to measure the knowledge retention of , In 2019, we continued training our LIFEGUARD ENGAGEMENT accompanying parents/guardians, 99% of 29103 400-strong team of education volunteers whom could recall the Float To Live message. EDUCATION across the UK and Ireland to deliver our new 2019 saw an overall increase in the number RESOURCE safety messages for young people as per of children reached through our Meet the DEVELOPING OUR DOWNLOADS our youth brand guidelines. The guidelines Lifeguards programme. In areas where FUTURE SUPPORTERS ensure that our cause and prevention numbers remained static, interest was still communications are consistent, age very high. We continue to raise awareness of the RNLI appropriate, clearly understood and with our youth audiences. Our aim is to engaged with. A total of 145,959 children participated in create young adults who are receptive to our In June, we launched our online Water our Meet the Lifeguards programme and 856 water safety messages and willing to support Safety Workshops on RNLI.org. The purpose children in our Hit the Surf programme. our organisation in the future because they of our digital launch was to raise awareness will know who we are and what we stand for. 856 of the importance of water safety and what Both lifeguard engagement programmes Storm Force membership is the RNLI's very the Youth Education Team can offer to are delivered by RNLI lifeguards during the own club for young people under the age CHILDREN schools and youth groups. summer and autumn school terms. of 11. PARTICIPATED IN Membership includes: OUR HIT THE SURF • an exclusive crew bag, pencil case, stickers PROGRAMME ENGAGING WITH OUR SWIM SAFE and more EDUCATION COMMUNITIES • four issues of Storm Force magazine a Swim Safe is a programme that offers free year, packed with real rescue stories, fun In 2020, the RNLI’s Water Safety Team We continue to focus our work on young water safety sessions for children and young things to make and do, competitions and will continue to drive forward our work people within their communities across the people, equipping them with the skills to water safety advice with young people across the RNLI and UK and Ireland. In 2019, our Youth Education stay safe in and around open water. A total • exclusive access to our online Crew ensure that all our activities and Team engaged with a record number of over of 62,696 children and young people took Room with great activities and exciting programmes align to the Water Safety 600,000 young people through a variety of part in Swim Safe in 2019 – a 35% increase rescue videos. Plan, thereby contributing to the overall channels including: on 2018. Of these participants, 22,054 organisational objectives.

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 25 12,180 STORM FORCE MEMBERSHIPS

, 145 959 1,953 , CHILDREN WEBSITE SESSIONS 42109 , LEADING TO YOUTH , REACHED 62 696 EDUCATION YOUTH 607856 THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION EDUCATION CHILDREN AND YOUNG MEET THE SWIM SAFE ENQUIRIES LIFEBOAT PEOPLE REACHED LIFEGUARDS STATION VISITS WITH KEY WATER PROGRAMME PARTICIPANTS SAFETY MESSAGES

26 FLOOD RESCUE STATISTICS

The RNLI Flood Rescue Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to deploy to flooding events in the UK, Ireland and abroad to perform search and rescue. The team comprises lifeboat crews and lifeguard personnel from all around the RNLI, who have been specially trained for the risks involved when working in or around fast- moving floodwater. The RNLI had the capacity to deploy up to four Type B teams until October 2019, at which point the service was reduced to two Type B teams. The teams meet DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) configuration requirements and are declared to the relevant national agencies for deployment anywhere in the UK, Isle of Man and IreIand. There are also occasions when our community assets, the lifeboat stations and lifeguards, are called upon to support their local communities. The RNLI responded to one flood-related incident in August 2019 when the north of England experienced a series of heavy rain systems which were made worse by the prevailing wind. The result of the heavy rain and wind direction caused overtopping of the Toddbrook Reservoir in Whaley Bridge. Two teams were deployed to the village of Whaley 1 FLOOD Bridge due to the risk of the failure RESCUE of the dam. While on site, they assisted INCIDENT the fire service with the safe movement of pumping machinery.

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 27 INTERNATIONAL STATISTICS

Over the last decade, 4 million people work from 2020 onwards. In Bangladesh and also provided swimming lessons to children SeaSafe project, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh: drowned globally. This is an international Tanzania this means focusing on preventing and water safety education in schools and RNLI-trained lifeguards patrol three sections of the busy beach development challenge that lacks drowning for rural children and for fishing communities. The RNLI’s financial support recognition, and for this reason drowning communities respectively. These new country to the SeaSafe project will be ending in 2021. has been identified by the World Health programme strategies are closely linked to We are working with the SeaSafe Team to Organization (WHO) as the silent epidemic. a global strategy to get drowning onto the explore other sources of funding, including Over 90% of drowning deaths happen in agenda of global partners and institutions from the Ministry of Tourism and local hotel low-and middle-income countries. In many with the resources to save lives. operators, to ensure sustainability of parts of Asia, drowning is now a leading killer the services. of children over the age of 1. BANGLADESH In 2019, the RNLI also continued to provide the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence with flood rescue operator and In 2019, the RNLI worked with the Centre for flood rescue trainer training as part of its Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh ongoing partnership. MILLION (CIPRB) on two drowning prevention projects 4 in Bangladesh. PEOPLE DROWNED Bhasa project, Barisal, Bangladesh: GLOBALLY OVER In Barisal Division, the third year of the lifesaving swimming lessons in THE LAST DECADE Bhasa project provided a comprehensive an adapted pond approach to drowning reduction involving multiple interventions. These included: • community-operated crèches to The RNLI is working with partners supervise children aged 1–4 years in a safe globally and in countries where drowning environment outside their homes has been recognised as a significant problem • a survival swimming programme called to elevate the issue onto the global agenda. SwimSafe which uses adapted local ponds Together we aim to widen the research to teach children aged 6–11 years basic base, grow skills and identify cost-effective survival swimming skills and practical solutions to save more lives. • community CPR training Overall, it is our goal that by 2024, drowning • and water safety messages to children prevention will be a higher priority and better in schools. resourced in areas of the world with the We are currently measuring the impact of greatest burden. this approach in order to influence next steps. Recognising that change will take many In Cox’s Bazar, the SeaSafe project years and learning from our work over the continued to provide year-round lifeguard past few years, we spent 2019 developing patrols on three sections of the longest new programme strategies to guide our sea beach in the world. The SeaSafe Team

28 BHASA PROJECT IN BANGLADESH SEASAFE PROJECT IN BANGLADESH FLOOD RESCUE TRAINING IN BANGLADESH

10,852 27 9,489 60 CHILDREN AND RNLI-TRAINED CHILDREN AND FLOOD RESCUE COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIFEGUARDS ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS RECEIVED WATER RECEIVED WATER OPERATORS SAFETY LESSONS PATROL SAFETY LESSONS TRAINED

10,187 1,187 16 CHILDREN 54 CHILDREN FLOOD RESCUE RECEIVED PEOPLE RESCUED RECEIVED TRAINERS TRAINED SURVIVAL SWIMMING BY LIFEGUARDS SURVIVAL SWIMMING AND DELIVERING LESSONS LESSONS TRAINING

8,993 351,931 CHILDREN REGULARLY PREVENTATIVE ATTENDED COMMUNITY-OPERATED ACTIONS BY CRÈCHES LIFEGUARDS

RNLI OPERATIONAL STATISTICS 2019 29 The Panje Project, Zanzibar: lessons for TANZANIA DRIVING GLOBAL ACTION children in survival swimming ON DROWNING In Zanzibar, the RNLI continued its work with partner organisation the Panje Project. In 2019, the RNLI continued to provide This partnership delivers survival swimming support to advocates from 11 countries lessons to school-age children and provides where drowning is a significant problem. water safety lessons through schools. The This support originated from our advocate RNLI’s support to the work of the Panje development programme pilot workshop that Project will be concluding in 2020. We took place in 2018. Three of the 12 advocates have been working with them to ensure attended the World Conference on Drowning sustainability of their drowning prevention Prevention and put their skills to use there. efforts, including exploring other sources of All were able to connect with journalists and funding and providing advocacy training. leaders on drowning prevention from their In Dar es Salaam, the RNLI continued own countries and regions. to provide training support to Tanzania Sea Since 2018, we have been educating Rescue, a voluntary maritime search and and engaging country representatives at rescue service operating out of Msasani Bay. the United Nations, where drowning has 12 The RNLI also partnered with Mwanza previously been neglected as an issue. SWIMMING Intervention Trials Unit (MITU) and the During 2019, we worked closely with three TEACHERS London School of Hygiene and Tropical governments who have agreed to champion Medicine (LSHTM) on a new research project the issue and briefed over 50 more. Together, TRAINED in 2019. The aim of the project was to our work will hopefully lead to the first ever estimate the burden and impact of drowning resolution on drowning prevention being on fishing communities around the Tanzanian proposed at the United Nations in 2020. shore of Lake Victoria and to understand We have also worked closely with the 318 804 potential methods for improving safety. This World Health Organization (WHO) on a SCHOOLTEACHERS CHILDREN study estimated that five fishermen and project to help 30 countries in Southeast TRAINED TO TEACH RECEIVED women drown every day in the Tanzanian Asia and Western Pacific region start to WATER SAFETY SURVIVAL SWIMMING sector of Lake Victoria and these deaths have determine their current drowning burden and SKILLS profound effects on the community. efforts to tackle it. This work will culminate LESSONS in 2020 with the production of two regional status reports on drowning prevention. These reports will be the first of their kind and 3 21,691 hopefully a model for other regions to adopt. CHILDREN TAUGHT COMMITTEES WATER SAFETY LESSONS FORMED TO CHAMPION BY SCHOOLTEACHERS DROWNING TRAINED BY THE PREVENTION LOCALLY PANJE PROJECT

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Photos: RNLI/(Harrison Bates, Harwich, Mike Lavis, Nigel Millard, Nathan Williams), Mark Barker, Barking Mad Media, Maldwin Drummond, Stephen Duncombe, Gavin Jones, Dean Wright

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney