Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Overview
Ryde Beach Lifeguards can be proud of the service they
gave to visitors to Ryde Beach this summer.
During the season, Ryde Beach Lifeguards performed over
147 preventative actions and assisted over 115 people
through everything from rescue to casualty care to searches
for missing persons. Some incidents of which without this
invaluable service and the quick response of the beach
lifeguards, would have most certainly resulted in lives lost.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards delivery for Ryde Town Council has
Our team:
developed over the years and as such we have adopted five
key areas that we now focus on each season.
Todd Miller
Erin Lovely
Beach Lifeguard Manager
Beach Lifeguard
These are:
Max Bigg
Robbie Jones
Operations Manager
1. Community Lifesaving
Beach Lifeguard
2. Personnel
Jacob Jenner
3. Lifesaving Performance
Head Lifeguard
4. Equipment
Annie Caddick
5. The next generation
Head Lifeguard
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Community Lifesaving
In 2020, Ryde Beach Lifeguards were unable to deliver their
usual School talks as well their other drowning prevention
initiatives, such as Swim Safe.
This is undoubtably linked to the increase in rescues this
year, with the team performing 84% rescues from the sea
this season.
We hope to develop our drowning prevention initiatives,
such as school talks in 2021 with the addition of external
funding to reach as many local children as possible.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Personnel & Training
The lifeguards themselves are at the core of the Ryde Beach Lifeguard
service and each year there is a challenge of recruiting and training
lifeguards who will be at the frontline of service delivery.
Recruitment starts in January, with the training for the team taking place
later this year, in June. This year we were fortunate to have the majority
of the 2019 team return, meaning that it was only required to hire 1
additional lifeguard for the season. Robbie the new recruit attended
daily ocean training with the Beach Manager as soon as government
guidance allowed it, with his formal training with the rest of the team in
June.
The lifeguards are all trained in house by an RLSS Trainer Assessor, all
achieving their RLSS NVBLQ, First Aid at Work, Defibrillator specialism,
RYA VHF and SLSW IRB training.
Throughout the season the lifeguards undergo regular training and
their performance on duty is regularly monitored by spot checks from
the Beach Manager. During the midseason scenario this year, the
lifeguards noticed and retrieved a drowning casualty approximately
200m out and brought them back to the shore, all in less than 4
minutes. Which is very impressive and a testament to their high
standard of training.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Lifesaving Performance
Type
Total
Beach Visitors
36042
In 2020, there were over 36,000 recorded visitors to Ryde Beach whilst
Ryde Beach Lifeguards were on duty with August being particularly busy
Lives saved
22
with 21,293 (69%) visitors in this month alone.
Rescue
22
As a result, there were a total of 299 incidents that required the lifeguards
Assistance
6
assistance.
Rescue due to inflatables
20
First Aid
21
The start of the season started off fairly quiet, with many still uneasy about
visiting the beach with Covid-19 in mind. However the opposite can be
Search
2
said for August, where the team saw a record number of visitors to the
Missing/Found
5
beach, with many being tourists. This had a knock on effect to their
Aquatic
22
demand, with some days the team being stretched to capacity with
completing multiple water rescues, first aids and relentless prevention
False alarm
2
actions.
Animals
5
Prevention
147
73% of all aquatic rescues were performed outside the flagged lifeguard
zone and instead occurred by L3, located by Ryde Harbour. This was
Other
25
exacerbated by the lack harbour master at Ryde Harbour for the majority
Total incidents
299
of the summer season, which meant that the team had to liaise with QHM
and the Maritime Police in effectively dealing with numerous vessel issues,
anti social behaviour from PWC users and drownings as result which on
busy days, was a challenge to say the least.
*The number of beach visitors is assessed by recording the number of beach users within the
lifeguard patrol areas, those in the water between the red and yellow flags.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
22
48
21
LIVES SAVED
RESCUES
FIRST AID
5
13
147
299
MISSING/
ANTI-SOCIAL
PREVENTATIVE
TOTAL
FOUND
BEHAVIOUR
ACTIONS
ACTIONS
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Rescues performed by lifeguards
48%
15%
67% Tourists
22%
33% Locals
11%
4%
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
The next generation
It was with great regret that we had to cancel our
Rookie Lifeguard Programme this year due to
Covid-19.
We will look to run the programme again in 2021
and promote this opportunity in the delivery of our
school talks and drowning prevention initiatives.
Equipment
Ryde Beach Lifeguards constantly reviews and adapts its
rescue service to the evolving demands of lifesaving to
ensure the lifeguards have the facilities and equipment
they need and deserve.
The lifeguard team are provided with high quality uniform
suitable for all weather conditions, and have the BLGHQ
for protection from the elements on breaks and running
water. Additionally the team have an IRB, two rescue
boards, a kayak, first aid equipment and various other
rescue equipment.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Equipment (Cont)
Thanks to a successful grant application towards the end of
2019, the team were able to purchase an Inshore Rescue Boat.
The IRB was bespoke built for RBLG’s with all the safety
equipment required to perform effective rescues. The IRB was
highlighted as a piece of equipment that the service required
due to a rescue of multiple casualties in 2019, which proved
difficult with a rescue board and kayak.
The IRB has proved an invaluable piece of equipment,
particularly in creating a greater presence for the team and
being able to patrol a much larger area and enabling them to
effectively preventing incidents by getting to bathers swiftly.
Additionally the IRB was used to collect 50+ inflatables, which
otherwise would have been a job for HM Coastguards and
directly rescue 18 casualties, with one occasion with 4 casualties
being rescued at once.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
Media
RBLG’s featured in various articles over the summer, but one article I would like to bring to everyones attention. This
article was featured on the Royal Life Saving Society’s website (https://www.rlss.org.uk/annie-caddick ) and
magazine.
Article:
ANNIE CADDICK
We recently heard from Todd Miller, Beach Manager at Ryde Beach about one particular member of his Lifeguarding Team, Annie
Caddick. Annie's hard work and determination has already seen her achieve more than medical science believed was possible, and
now she has received some very special news that could see her achieve even more! Good Luck Annie. Below, Todd and Annie herself
explain her story.
Annie applied to become a Beach Lifeguard for Ryde Beach Lifeguards in 2019, for which she was successful in obtaining the role as
well as obtaining a RBLG’s fully funded training programme. The training programme included a gruelling week of fitness and
lifesaving skills in the sea and pool as well as theory work in the classroom. On completion, the lifeguards undertake external
assessments and if they pass, obtain their National Beach Lifeguard Qualification, First Aid at Work, AED and Anaphylaxis specialisms,
as well as VHF and Power Boat Training.
Becoming a Beach Lifeguard is not easy, and we see many applicants each year unable to pass the basic fitness tests during our
recruitment process. Therefore, when applicants pass their training and become a member of the team, it is generally a very
emotional, well-earned celebration.
Through perseverance along with the support of her colleagues, Annie passed her training in 2019. She afterwards completed a
summer season. Returning again this year, progressing to a Head Lifeguard position. Annie has always been a strong member of
the team, and the team were overjoyed with her recent achievement.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
ANNIE CADDICK (Cont)
Annie Caddick:
"Being born with cerebral palsy has meant I have had to overcome a number of challenges that most people don’t have to deal
with. My parents were told when I was born that I would more than likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life and even if I was able
to walk, I would never be able to participate in sports.
Despite what medical professionals said, through my mental perseverance and the support of friends and family, I have been able to
take part in a number of sports. Water sports being one of them, living by the sea I naturally spent most summers in or around the sea.
Therefore, when my parents saw the opportunity to become a Beach Lifeguard on the notice board at our local pool, I applied straight
away.
Having been successful in the initial application, I then had to pass the training, which, was challenging to say the least! In particular,
the timed swim (400m in less than 8 minutes), which on my first attempt I didn’t achieve. However, with the relentless encouragement
of the rest of the team and Todd (Beach Manager), as well as my own determination. Each day I brought my time down, and when it
came to the assessment I passed!
Following that, I completed a whole summer season in 2019 and returned this year, getting promoted to Head Lifeguard. I love being
a Beach Lifeguard - it is so rewarding, and I am known for always being the first to offer to go out on the rescue board, kayak or
IRB. Outside of the summer months, I attend university. This is where I discovered rowing. Due to my passion for the sport my coach
recommended that I apply for the GB Paralympic Programme, which I did and recently received the news that I classify and have
been accepted into the GB Paralympic Training Programme and couldn’t be happier!
I am excited about the future and want to thank everyone who has supported me. I hope my journey will inspire others to pursue what
they are passionate about!”
Being part of a Beach Lifeguard team isn’t just an easy summer job where you top up your tan, which is the general perception from
many. It is a challenging, yet extremely rewarding job that certainly never leaves you.
I am extremely proud of Annie and the rest of the team, as it has been a busy summer with many sea rescues, first aids and missing
children already under their belts.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards Report 2020
2021
Each year we aim to improve the service we provide to Ryde Town Council, so over the
winter we will assess all of the incident data collected from the lifeguards on paper
incident report forms and review our procedures if necessary.
All the lifeguard team provided their own feedback during their end of season
appraisals with the head lifeguard, which will also be taken into consideration for our
2021 delivery.
Due to the success of the IRB we are looking into the feasibility of an ATV (quad bike)
as we believe this would certainly be a great asset to the service. Additionally we will
look into red flagging the far end of L3 by the harbour, as well as working with RTC
and the IWC to get additional signage by Ryde Harbour to warn visitors of the clear
dangers involved with swimming in this part of the beach.
From all of the Beach Lifeguard Team, we would like to take this opportunity to thank
Ryde Town Council for their continued support of the service and for of course
choosing us to deliver the service.
We look forward to 2021.
Ryde Beach Lifeguards
North Walk
Ryde
Isle of Wight
PO33 1JA
Todd Miller
Beach Lifeguard Manager
rydebeachlifeguards@gmail.com