[01:06.62]I never really planned to be a lifeboat volunteer when I came to live in Northsea.
[01:12.49]I'd been
working in London as a website designer, but although that was interesting, I didn't like city
life.
[01:20.03]I'd been really keen on boats as a teenager, and I thought if I went to live by the sea, I might be able to pursue that interest a bit more in my free time.
[01:30.00]Then I found that the
Lifeboat Institution was looking for volunteers, so I decided to apply.
[01:36.88]The Lifeboat Institution building here in Northsea's hard to miss, it's one of the largest in the
country.
[01:44.70]It was built 15 years ago with funds provided by a generous member of the public who'd lived here all her life.
[01:51.78]As the Lifeboat Institution is a charity that relies on that kind of
donation, rather than funding provided by the government, that was a huge help to us.
[02:01.53]When I applied, I had to have a health assessment.
[02:05.37]The doctors were particularly interested
in my vision.
[02:09.01]I used to be short-sighted, so I’d had to wear glasses, but I'd had laser eye
surgery two years earlier so that was OK.
[02:17.86]They gave me tests for colour blindness and the thought I might have a problem there, but it turned out I was OK.
[02:25.74]When the coastguard gets an alert al the volunteers are contacted and rush to the lifeboat
station.
[02:32.77]Our targets to get there in five minutes, then we try to get the boat of the dock and out to sea in another six to eight minutes.
[02:42.46]Our team's proud that we usually achieve that - the average time across the country’s eight and a half minutes.
[02:50.23]I've recently qualified as what's called a 'helmsman', which means I have the ultimate
responsibility for the lifeboat.
[02:58.50]I have to check that the equipment we use is in working order -
the crew have special life jackets that can support up to four people in the water.
[03:07.85]And
it's ultimately my decision whether it’s safe to launch the boat.
[03:12.54]But it’s very rare not to launch it, even in the worst weather.
[03:17.05]As well as going out on the lifeboat, my work involves other things too.
[03:22.34]A lot of people
underestimate how quickly conditions can change at sea, so I speak to youth groups and sailing clubs in the area about the sorts of problems that sailors and swimmers can have if
the Weather suddenly gets bad.
[03:37.38]We also have a lot of volunteers who organise activities to
raise money for us, and we couldn't manage without them.
[04:21.99]The training we get is a continuous process, focusing on technical competence and safe
handling techniques, and it' s given me the confidence to deal with extreme situations without panicking.
[04:36.65]I was glad I’d done a first aid course before started, as that's a big help with the
casualty care activities we do.
[04:44.90]We've done a lot on how to deal with ropes and tie knots -
that's an essential skill.
[04:51.69]After a year, I did a one-week residential course, led by specialists.
[04:57.51]They had a wave-tank where they could create extreme weather conditions – so we could get experience at what to do if the boat turned over in a storm at night for example.
[05:08.64]Since I started, I’ve had to deal with a range of emergency situations.
[05:14.44]But the work’s hugely motivating.
[05:17.30]It's not just about saving lives - I've learned a lot about the technology involved.
[05:23.60]My background in IT’s been useful here, and I can use my expertise to
help other volunteers.
[05:30.51]They're a great group - we're like a family really, which helps when you're dragging yourself out of bed on a cold stormy night.
[05:39.10]But actually, it's the colder months
that can be the most rewarding time.
[05:44.19]That's when the incidents tend to be more serious, and
you realise that you can make a huge difference to the outcome.
[05:51.63]So if any of you listeners are interested…
