PPE For Volunteers  

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rhyl Lifeboat Station approached Gwynt y Môr for possible funding for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) for their essential volunteers. With the £2,000 fund awarded by Gwynt y Môr all staff, lifeboat crew members and essential volunteers at Rhyl Lifeboat Station were provided with PPE during activity associated with the station, e.g. rescues, training, operational management, and cleaning.

Thanks to PPE received Rhyl Lifeboat Station and its crew were able to remain fully operational and maintained a 24 hour search and rescue service through the whole of 2020. They launched their Shannon-class All Weather Lifeboat Anthony Kenneth Heard 17 times, coming to the aid of 8 people who otherwise would have found themselves in serious danger. The crew also launched their D-class Inshore Lifeboat Mary Maxwell 40 times, coming to the aid of 23 people in an emergency. Without the PPE to protect our crew members and casualties, we simply would not have been able to launch to these people in need. Your support helped keep the service operating.

All casualties and rescuees were provided with PPE including face masks and gloves. Social distancing was maintained where possible, especially on the larger Shannon lifeboat, but inevitably crews and the public were at close proximity during rescues from the water and onboard the smaller inshore lifeboat. PPE enhanced the level of protection for the casualties and the crew.