Eighteen local teenagers have followed an educational programme of coastal safety and surveillance at the Mount Batten Centre.
During the four week programme they learned everything from stand up paddle boarding techniques and rescues, to self recovery in a kayak and practicing rescuing a casualty with a throw line.
Time was also spent in the classroom looking at scenarios of hazards along the coast and how to minimise the risks.
The final session took to the fields at Jennycliff and Mount Batten Beach and during this practical exercise the group spotted two ‘casualties’ in the distance on the rocks by Mpunt Batten Beach. The youngsters decided to call ‘999’ and within minutes the Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and Police responded.
The group saw the techniques and casualty care given to the casualties with ‘broken leg’ and ‘dislocated shoulder’.
The incident was an exercise, planned specifically for the group to put into practice the knowledge they had learnt. The ‘casualties’ were, in fact, instructors from the Mount Batten Centre but it wasn’t until later that the group were made aware of this.
A number of organisations supported the exercise including the CRT, Sgt Port from Plymouth Police, Longroom Port Control, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Plymouth Lifeboat and Falmouth Maritime Operations Coastguard.
It was the first four week programme of its kind and was devised by geography teacher Tors Froud who is also Making Waves Together project manager.
It has been established for delivery to teenagers at the Mount Batten Centre which is being supported by #CoastSafe_DandC a police initiative aimed at preventing incidents through multi agency work along the coastline in Devon and Cornwall. The 18 young people now have the opportunity to share their experience and knowledge to their families, friends and wider community.
Chris Cook from the RNLI Plymouth Lifeboat who worked with the planning and delivery of the programme said:
“The coastal safety and surveillance initiative has been an excellent way to enable young people to engage with their local coastal environment.”
“Not only are they able to take part in a range of exciting and fun water based activities but they also learn how to do this safely. The participants can not only plan safe activities for themselves but spot others in danger near the coast.”
The Mount Batten Centre hosted the programme with funding from Awards For All. It is hoped to roll the programme out to local groups of all ages and adapt it to varying levels of water abilities, from land based dog walkers, to local primary schools.
