The RNLI is marking International Lifeguard Appreciation Day on Friday 31 July by thanking the lifeguards who work across the North and East region. On Lifeguard Appreciation Day, the RNLI is marking the work of its lifeguards who keep the beaches safe in North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, North Yorkshire, East Riding, North Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk.
The celebration is intended to recognise the dedication, professionalism and lifesaving impact of RNLI lifeguards who help keep millions of beach visitors safe each year.
In the North and East, RNLI lifeguards patrol 44 beaches within North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, North Yorkshire, East Riding, North Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk.
The day comes during a landmark year for the RNLI’s lifeguard service, which is simultaneously celebrating its 25-year anniversary of patrolling beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. Since the service launched in 2001, RNLI lifeguards have saved 2,165 lives, aided more than 459,000 people, responded to over 333,000 incidents, and carried out more than 48 million preventative actions. They are also a presence across beaches in the North and East of England.
RNLI lifeguards are best known for rescuing people in difficulty in the water, but much of their work takes place before an incident ever develops. Around 95% of a lifeguard’s role is prevention, from advising swimmers about rip currents and changing conditions to helping families stay safe on the beach and reuniting lost children with their parents.
Today, the RNLI provides lifeguard patrols on more than 245 beaches nationally, making it the UK’s largest lifeguard service provider. The service has grown significantly since its pilot scheme in 2001, when lifeguards patrolled 26 beaches across the south and south-west of England. In that first year alone, lifeguards aided 2,801 people and saved 20 lives.
Peter Dawes, RNLI Lifeguard General Manager, said: ‘On International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, we want to thank every RNLI lifeguard, past and present, for the extraordinary contribution they make to public safety.
This year marks 25 years of RNLI lifeguards keeping beaches safer, and the impact they have had is remarkable. More than 2,000 lives have been saved thanks to their skill, commitment, and professionalism. As a charity, we are incredibly proud of what they have achieved and grateful to the supporters whose donations help train, equip and sustain this lifesaving service.’
Before taking up a patrol position, RNLI lifeguards undertake extensive training, including fitness assessments, rescue techniques, and casualty care. This ensures they are prepared to respond to a wide range of incidents and emergencies.
To find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach, visit rnli.org/lifeguardedbeach.
