Skegness Magazine

Skegness hosts England’s biggest ever beach safety event

‘Get safe 4 Summer’

THE BIGGEST water safety event ever to be held in England took place on the June 25, 2008, in Skegness, one of the country’s most popular seaside holiday resorts and 1000 young people from across the East Midlands attended.

Each year millions of people flock to the Lincolnshire coast to take a refreshing dip in the sea and make the most of the golden Blue Flag Award Winning beaches, as well as the excellent facilities.

Although playing in water can be fun, many people get into difficultly in the sea, lakes and rivers by swimming out of their depth or by taking an un-tethered inflatable onto the sea, which is subsequently blown further out by the occasional off-shore gusts.

In 2007 alone, East Lindsey District Council’s Beach Lifeguards issued over 600 warnings and the RNLI and the coastguard, responded to a combined total of 473 incidents off our coast.

To kick off the ‘Get Safe for summer’ event, the Embassy Theatre hosted a series of water safety presentations from the Council and Royal Lifesaving Society. The guest of honour Great Britain Commonwealth Swimmer, Rebecca Cooke, (right)  then opened the event.

Mock Lifeboat Rescue

The programme included an off-shore mock rescue operation co-ordinated by the resort’s mascot the Jolly Fisherman. As part of Jolly’s 100 birthday celebrations he helped to captain the Skegness lifeboat to rescue someone stranded in the sea with help from the RNLI and coastguard. There will also be rookie lifeguard taster sessions and beach games for everyone to join in.

Emergency Services Coast Guard

Tower Esplanade, the road leading down to the beach, was be packed with interactive attractions covering 999 and coastal rescue services, giving people an insight into the dangers and skills needed to perform rescues at sea, and ideas of what’s on this summer, as well as providing information on a safe environment for children.

Clive Yates the event organiser from East Lindsey District Council said the activities are aimed primarily at young people and their parents: “This is a FREE day packed full of interactive activities which are educational, fun and informative. It is important that we make sure people are of the issues associated with playing in water and this is just one part of our campaign, which also sees us visiting schools and speaking to young people,” he explained.

The Get Safe 4 Summer event has been organised by East Lindsey District Council in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association and the Royal Lifesaving Society.

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