Children at schools in Cornwall are set to receive beach safety lessons from lifeguards with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The initiative will see lifeguards visit 238 primary schools as part of a pre-season safety education programme.
Pupils aged seven to 11 will take part in 30-minute interactive sessions covering how to identify safe swimming spots, the meaning of beach flags, potential dangers on the beach, and emergency procedures.
RNLI lifeguard manager Dave Gorman emphasised the importance of early education, stating that children growing up on or near the coast will visit beaches with their families over the summer. He noted that it is essential for them to learn about the beach environment from a young age.
The lifeguards have undergone training to effectively engage with children in a classroom setting and to make the sessions enjoyable. The programme will run until the official start of the beach season on 5 May, complementing the charity's lifeguard service on 57 of Cornwall's busiest beaches.
