Fishing is the UK’s most dangerous industry and in a bid to improve safety, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is holding a series of events for Yorkshire fishermen next week.
Members of the charity’s Fishing Safety team will be in Bridlington on Tuesday 25 January and in Whitby on Thursday 27 January to provide fishermen with information and advice on lifejackets, cold water shock and the RNLI’s MOB Guardian.
Frankie Horne, RNLI Fishing Safety Co-ordinator, said around 20 commercial fishermen die every year around the coast of the UK.
He added: “The RNLI wants to make fishermen more aware of the dangers they face, and to show them that by making a few small changes to the way they operate, they can substantially improve their own safety.”
In each town there will be a lifejacket clinic, where fishermen can take their own lifejackets for a health check by one of the RNLI’s Fishing Safety team. Lifejackets need regular maintenance and fishermen will be shown how to carry out their own checks to make sure their lifejackets are fit for purpose.
The clinics will be followed by presentations about cold water shock and the RNLI’s MOB Guardian system.
Cold water shock is a potential killer for anyone who falls overboard around the UK coast, particularly if they are not wearing a lifejacket, but many people underestimate the dangers. Sudden immersion in cold water can cause increased blood pressure, a rise in heart rate and risk of gasping in water. Anyone falling in without a lifejacket will struggle to stay afloat and find it difficult to avoid inhaling water.
The MOB Guardian system, which has been developed by the RNLI for fishermen, gives an early alert to an emergency, helps reduce search time and provides rescuers with an up-to-date position for the man overboard or troubled vessel. It means search and rescue agencies, including RNLI volunteer crews on lifeboats, don’t have to start a search with little or no information about the location of the casualty. If a single-handed fisherman falls over the side of their vessel, the system will automatically alert search and rescue agencies and can also shut down a boat’s engine remotely.
Details of the RNLI Fishing Safety events in Yorkshire:
Tuesday 25 January
Rags Restaurant, South Pier, Bridlington. 11am to 3pm - Lifejacket Clinic. 7pm to 9pm - Coldwater Shock and MOB Guardian presentation.
Thursday 27 January
Whitby RNLI lifeboat station, 11am to 4pm - Lifejacket Clinic. Fisherman’s Club, Haggersgate, Pier Road, Whitby, 7pm to 9pm - Coldwater Shock and MOB Guardian presentation.
For more information contact Frankie Horne, RNLI Fishing Safety Co-ordinator on +44 (0)7624 483466.
