Pic: RNLI
Volunteers from Cardigan RNLI are attending this year’s Eisteddfod y Garreg Las this week (1-8 August), helping to share vital water safety advice with visitors while raising awareness of the RNLI’s lifesaving work around the coast of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
The Eisteddfod is a celebration of Welsh language, culture and community, and Cardigan RNLI is proud to be supporting the event by engaging with visitors and promoting key water safety messages in both Welsh and English.
Throughout the week-long event, volunteers are on hand to provide practical advice to help people stay safe when enjoying the coast, taking part in water sports, or spending time near the water.
Key safety messages will include the RNLI’s Float to Live campaign, which advises people to fight their instinct to swim if they unexpectedly find themselves in difficulty in the water. Instead, they should float on their back, control their breathing and call for help.
Volunteers will also be promoting the RNLI’s lifesaving advice to ‘Phone, Float, Throw’. In an emergency:
1. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
2. Encourage the casualty to float on their back
3. And throw something that floats if available.
Visitors will be encouraged to choose lifeguarded beaches whenever possible and to check the weather forecast, tides and sea conditions before heading to the coast.
As a charity that saves lives at sea, the RNLI relies on the dedication of volunteers and the support of local communities. The Eisteddfod provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate Welsh heritage, connect with local residents and visitors, and share potentially lifesaving advice that could help prevent tragedies along our coastline.
Lyn Adams, Water Safety Officer and Shore Crew at Cardigan Lifeboat Station said:
‘The Eisteddfod is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with local people and visitors from across Wales while celebrating our language, culture and community.
‘As a coastal area, many of us spend time enjoying the sea, rivers and coastline, so it’s important that we take every opportunity to share simple but potentially lifesaving safety advice.’
You can visit the RNLI stand at the Science Village and meet the team, learn more about how we save lives at sea, and find out how you can support the RNLI!
