School Reporters make waves with the RNLI

The RNLI held an open day for the public in Poole

By Jacob
School Reporter at Emmanuel Middle School, Dorset

On the 9th and 10th of July 2011 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) hosted an open weekend for the general public at their national headquarters in Poole.

The event was to show people how they performed rescues out at sea or on the beaches and what sort of equipment they use to perform these. It was also a way to gather funds as the RNLI is a charity and does not receive government funding so it relies heavily on any money that is donated.

Alice and I went along to one of the days to experience first hand what this very important, life-saving charity does with all of its donations.

There were many displays and performances on view for everyone to see and we chose to watch the demonstration of a lifeboat capsizing in the Atlantic. This took place in the largest indoor tank in the UK measuring 25m long, 6m wide and 4m deep.

It was fantastic to watch as they easily completed what most people would find near impossible Jacob

Not only did the crew have to save themselves and turn the boat back over - they had to do it under harrowing conditions. One metre high waves, generated by a machine inside the tank, constantly bombarded them!

They had to perform in the dark with very low visibility and they had other effects to deal with such as wind, rain, and noise from a helicopter recovery. It was fantastic to watch as they easily completed what most people would find near impossible.

After this we were directed to the RNLI's panoramic simulator which is used to train future life boat operators.

Risking their lives

Whilst waiting to go inside we interviewed two volunteer RNLI tour guides who told us that a large quantity of the RNLI's employees were also volunteers and that they had a huge amount of respect and admiration for these young men and women who go out to sea and risk their lives to save complete strangers and get no reward apart from personal satisfaction.

According to the tour guides that's what working for the RNLI is all about.

Just after we had finished the interview we were let in to their astonishing simulator which realistically replicated the interior and function of an all weather lifeboat. I had of privilege of being selected to have a go at driving this lifeboat simulator which surprisingly was a very difficult task.

After attending the scene of a boat fire and rescuing some of the crew members, I then (mistakenly) crashed into a nearby boat! After that it was time to move onto something else!

After attending the scene of a boat fire and rescuing some of the crew members, I then (mistakenly) crashed into a nearby boat! Jacob

We then took a small tour of the complex, seeing some of the latest most technological lifeboats the RNLI has in its service.

We then headed over to the viewing area where we watched a display put on by the beach lifeguards where they chose members of the audience to come down and help them explain what all the different coloured flags mean and what you should do if you see one.

They also explained what you should do if you happen to get into trouble whether it is on the beach or in the sea.

The lifeguards then demonstrated how one of their water rescue jet skis performs a rescue saving one brave volunteer on his float from sinking in the bay.

They also showed us the importance of communications between the lifeguard on the beach and the jet-ski rescuer.

Valuable insight

After this we met the RNLI public relations officer Isla Reynolds who told us that she is one of a few people who are actually employed by the RNLI and gets paid a salary for her work of helping journalists report on events involving the RNLI such as a daring rescue operation or a big boating accident that the RNLI had to be involved in.

We left the open day with a valuable insight into the way this hugely important charity and the work that it does to save many lives at sea and it does this invaluable work all with no government funding and relying on public generosity.

Overall the RNLI does truly amazing work and any publicity, awareness and money that can be raised for them goes to a truly good cause and we believe that everyone should continue to support them in the fantastic way that they do today.