The RNLI has launched a summer awareness campaign to encourage yachtsmen to wear lifejackets all the time when afloat.
Research reveals that the majority (98%) of sailors and motor boaters own lifejackets, but only 42% claim to wear them “always” when on board. So the RNLI is promoting the message that lifejackets are “useless unless worn.”
The RNLI's voluntary lifeboat crew, who know how unpredictable the sea can be, are trained to put their lifejacket on and ensure it is correctly fitted whenever they go aboard a lifeboat, whether out on a shout or in training, whatever the weather.
John Donaghy, the RNLI voluntary crew member who appears in the campaign advertisement, says:
“As a Paramedic for the London Ambulance Service I am all too aware that during an emergency time plays a critical role in a casualty's ability to survive. If you always wear your lifejacket it will buy you vital time in an emergency, and could mean the difference between life and death.”
As a keen sailor and motor boater Tony Wafer, RNLI sea safety progammes manager, recognises that personal choice and judgement are both crucial factors in enjoying the freedom of the open sea.
“We're simply aiming to encourage more of the boating community to switch their risk assessment around and say: 'when should I take my lifejacket off?' rather than 'when should I put it on?' because experience tells us that in an emergency there is not always time to make sure your lifejacket is securely and correctly fitted,” he said.
The recently published Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into the incident involving yacht Ouzo in August last year and the tragic deaths of her three crew highlighted the importance of raising awareness of the need to wear lifejackets and ensuring that they are correctly fitted.
The report recommended that the British Standards Institute (BSI) should “Consider the likelihood that during an emergency, lifejackets will not be fitted tightly and that, therefore, to be effective, a crotch strap should be standard supply with every lifejacket.”
Tony Wafer added: “All RNLI volunteer crew members wear lifejackets fitted with crotch straps so we fully support the MAIB reports recommendation to the BSI, and are willing to share our knowledge and experience in sea survival in the future development of lifejacket design and technology.”
Sea survival expert based at the University of Portsmouth, Professor Mike Tipton said that while we could never know the full circumstances that led to the crew of Ouzo being found in the sea, “Lifejackets tend to be worn when there is an immediate threat to life of those on board, or conditions permit that the choice has been made to wear one. While a risk assessment has therefore been made, all too often many boaters are leaving this vital decision too late to allow for any contingency to be put in place.
“The fact remains that the UK and Ireland are cold water countries - you don't have long in the water before the impact of cold sets in and a lifejacket buys you vital time and could even save your life, but only if you're wearing it correctly.”
RNLI Sea Safety volunteers across the UK and Ireland have been trained to give demonstrations and advise sailors on how to choose and fit lifejackets correctly. They will be visiting a range of events and yacht clubs this summer.
For more information visit rnli.org.uk/seasafety/lifejackets
