The Greenbank and The Working Boat are now first responders
We are now trained to saves lives with help from LOCAL CoastguardS and THE Fire & Rescue Service.
The Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team is targeting training in areas where people are most likely to get into difficulty. Eager staff from The Working Boat and The Greenbank Hotel received lifesaving training from HM Coastguard and Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service – so they can help people in difficulty in the water near the businesses.
On Friday 17th May, our teams learnt valuable skills to hopefully reduce the number of water related incidents nearby. The training session was overseen by RNLI assessors, which enabled participants to become accredited waterside community responders.
Mike Parsons from The Greenbank Hotel said: ‘Being so close to the water means that we’re often the first to respond. We know how to react in an effective manner to give the person in trouble the best possible outcome.’
#DontDrinkandDrown
Research indicates that around a quarter of all adult drowning victims have alcohol in their bloodstream. Because of this, the #CoastSafe initiative wants to educate people of the dangers alcohol related drownings have. As well as receiving the training, both businesses became the Royal Life Saving Society #DontDrinkandDrown for display within their premises.
Matt Rogers, Senior Coastguard Operations Officer from Falmouth Coastguard, said: ‘We’re really pleased that these businesses jumped on board with this training initiative. This is in an area of high risk where drownings and incidents have occurred in the past. By offering this training to their staff, they will be able to make lifesaving interventions. As a result, we urge people not to jump in the water to save someone. It is safer to rescue people without entering the water. Therefore, the best thing to do is raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.’
Ben Young, Managing Director from The Greenbank Hotel, added: ‘Operating a busy hotel and pub literally on the edge of the sea means we have the ability to be of significant use. This training organised by Matt Rogers alongside Devon and Cornwall Police, the RNLI and Cornwall Fire and Rescue. It is a fantastic example of a public and private partnership coming together to achieve more. Above all, I’m proud that twenty three staff members attended this potentially life-saving training.’
Thank you to all the emergency services who came down to train us! We hope we will never have to put our training into practice but feel relieved knowing that we can do our part when the situation arises.
