RNLI Lifeguards for 2025 now being recruited.

The RNLI is looking for this summer's lifeguards in East Sussex, including Hastings; for details of requirements and conditions please go to the RNLI website. Respect to those who apply.

RNLI looking for this summer's lifeguards.

The RNLI is looking for this summer's lifeguards in East Sussex starting from the 7th of April until the 1st of October 2023, I'll copy the requirements below, but note that they "can help you gain the (vocational) qualifications you need" (RNLI).

Hold a National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) or equivalent or ILS Beach/Surf Lifeguard qualification or equivalent. You can find out if your beach/surf lifeguard qualification is recognised on the ILS website.

• Take a health assessment (including an eyesight test) to ensure you are physically up to the job. This applies even if you've worked as an RNLI lifeguard before.
• Complete a 400m pool swim in under 7½ minutes, the first 200m of which must be completed in under 3½ minutes.
• Complete a 25m pool swim underwater and a 25m surface swim consecutively in under 50 seconds.
• Complete a 200m beach run in under 40 seconds.
• Be focused, vigilant, proactive and professional, with excellent people and rescue skills.
• Be approachable, someone who enjoys meeting people and helping them stay safe.
• Be a team player, get on well with other people, communicate easily and follow direction when required to.
• Be over 16 and of school leaving age (with the permission of parent/guardian, if under 18).
• Be willing to provide a DBS check or national/international equivalent.

Good luck and stay safe folks! 

RNLI Lifeguards to Reappear this Half-Term.

I am sure we are all happy that the RNLI Lifeguard Stations at Pelham Beach and Marina St Leonards Beach are both returning to service from today until the end of the School Half-Term week (RNLI). We are reminded that the temperature of the water is still VERY cold, and more information can be found at the RNLI website, including the following 5 safety tips, which are cut & pasted below from that site: 

"1. Swim at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags

2. Never use inflatables in strong winds or rough seas

3. Check tide times before you go

4. If you get into trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help

5. If you see someone else in trouble, tell a lifeguard as soon as you can. If you can't see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 immediately and ask for the Coastguard."

Whatever, stay safe folks!

 

Battening Down the Hatches this Weekend!

This was the Pelham car park earlier this week, and evidence in the background the RNLI Lifeguards are back, if only at this one place on Hastings beach, plus evidence it wasn't too busy in Hastings... Well this photograph was taken not long after 9 am, and already people were turning up in their cars, so ignore that last comment! Personally, I tend to avoid beaches at the best of times when the sun worshippers are around/in the summer, and it's not just on the beach it's busy, on my way walking back from the blood donor session up on The Ridge (blog), Monday afternoon, I came back down through Alexandra Park, and it was packed, it was like the summer holidays it was so full, and this was only on Monday, the temperature to carry on increasing until yesterday!

And this was the scene at Bournemouth yesterday, where they had to declare a major incident because of the overcrowding, and we are well aware of the problems there has been recently, including yesterday, in nearby Camber Sands (Kent Live News)! Again, because I'm not a beach lover, consequently, I have avoided the seafront like the plague after 10 am, but please feel free to add a comment and tell me what it was like in Hastings. Whatever, it will only get worse this weekend... 

and I dread what it will be like Saturday week, the 4th of July, with pubs reopening, and social distancing being reduced to one metre plus!

So I shall be battening down the hatches over the next few weekends, as soon as I get indoors following lovely peaceful early morning walks, fingers crossed. 😾

Another Weekend - What is Normality?!?

Another weekend is upon us, the FOURTEENTH without pubs being open, and we are hoping to return to 'normality' some time soon? Holiday parks are soon to reopen, but with limitations, public toilets have reopened with limited hours, shops have reopened, well some of them, but with limitations, takeaway food and even drinks have got going again, but with limitations, from this weekend there will be a RNLI Lifeguard on Pelham Beach, so you are limited to swimming in that 'safe' spot... You can meet up with up to 5 people from other households, in an open space, and providing you all stay at least 2 metres apart, indeed, you can go into a partnership with anyone and make your own 'support bubble' and behave as if you live in the same household as that partner. In England you can drive to anywhere you like, in England, but you cannot travel on public transport to anywhere you want unless you have a reason agreed to by the Government, or whatever officialdom interprets as an acceptable reason... 

In fact, you are actively discouraged from travelling by public transport, which creates a divide regarding civil liberties, people with cars are allowed to travel to wherever they want, in England, but if you do not have a car or motorbike you are stuck within walking distance so you have not got true freedom of movement. Also, after years of trying to convince people that for health reasons, and environmental reasons, they should use public transport and get out of the car and walk, we are now being told to jump in a car and drive to anywhere we want, which is okay if you have a car, but what a contradiction! I can go into a 'support bubble' with anyone I want to, providing they want to too, indeed can hug that person if we both agree to, but I cannot visit my next of kin and hug family members. This is NOT normal... 

Trying to get frustration off my chest, thank you 😥

Have a good weekend and stay safe...

RNLI Lifeguards - Seasonal Recruitment

The RNLI are again recruiting for lifeguards to work through the warmer months, if you are interested go the RNLI website.

New Hastings Lifeguard Stations

We've two new lifeguard stations on the beaches near the centre of town, the one above is opposite the Carlisle pub...

... and this one is on Pelham Beach. I need to wander further to the west to see if there are anymore new lifeguard stations, maybe later this weekend 😎 

Want to be a RNLI Lifeguard this Summer?

Do you want to be a RNLI Lifeguard  in Hastings and St Leonards (or elsewhere) this summer, or do you know someone else who would be interested? If so, have a look at the RNLI website for further details for how you could help to save lives.