They have completed their first aid training, fitness testing and also their 4x4 and all terrain vehicle assessments. From Saturday, Summerleaze and Widemouth lifeguards will be joined by lifeguards covering Crooklets, Black Rock and Sandymouth from 10am until 6pm, seven days a week.
On Tuesday, May 9, lifeguards Ben and Richie teamed up with the RNLI community safety officer and volunteers from Bude Lifeboat Station to promote the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign in the town.
They said: “We want people to enjoy the water, but we also want you to recognise its dangers and never underestimate its power.”
The team went to a number of shops throughout the town, giving out information on the campaign and inviting owners to attend an evening’s training, focusing on how everyone can work together to reduce the number of accidental coastal deaths.
For information on the campaign, come along to speak to the lifeguards or visit https://rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water.
In the meantime, Summerleaze and Widemouth lifeguards have been blessed with some incredible spring weather that has caused small waves, so the water has been busy with sea swimmers and the beaches busy with school groups and dog walkers.
Dogs are allowed on Black Rock beach all year round, but are banned on Widemouth until September 30. Dogs are banned on Crooklets until the end of September, but are allowed on Summerleaze on a lead from May 21 to September 30 (from 10am until 6pm).
For those heading for a coastal walk, make sure the tide times are checked, and speak to the lifeguards for more advice.