RNLI Safety Talk at Southsea Marina Angling Club

The May SMAC meeting featured a boat safety talk by Brian Masters representing the RNLI. The audience included SMAC members, ECA and other guest who packed into the Marina Bar to hear Brian and take advantage of the Life-jacket Clinic run by RNLI Volunteer Richard Hills. Although the audience was composed of experienced boat anglers, Brian who was an excellent speaker, took this into account and we all learned something new. He also showed us some very interesting and helpful videos of RNLI rescues, and what actually happens when you fall in the water with and without a life-jacket.

The RNLI are promoting life-saving actions to take if you fall in the water, and my own takeaway was that once you overcame the initial Cold Water Shock effect, you only have a limited time to save yourself because after your body temperature drops 2C, you pass beyond the phase of “useful consciousness” and are then totally reliant on rescue. Brian shared some great tips and I am sure everyone went away much better informed on sea safety issues.

The RNLI were very generous with their safety freebies, and in return SMAC and guests raised £94 for RNLI funds. We are very grateful to Brian and Richard for turning out as volunteers, and to the RNLI for being there if we need them.