RNLI - Lifeboats

ojewriej

Hi is anyone here involved with RNLI? I was thinking about volunteering, but there is not much info about it on the web really, and it would be good to talk to someone with some experience in this area.

Anyone?

TheNog

I think that of all the emergency services out there the RNLI are the most admirable cos they are comprised of volunteers.

Fair play to ye. Respect

BeardyGit

The lifeboats aren't the only entirely voluntary emergency service out there Nog....MR has 350 vol's who cover ALL their expenses, training/petrol/equipment themselves, and save many lives each year. We're also involved in the search and recovery of suicides, drownings and all sorts of other unsavoury situations....

This shouldn't degenerate into a "we're better than them" type nonsense though, so let's just give RNLI a pat on the back, as you intended.

Respect goes out to the Lifeboat crews - they're an example of selflessness for all of us.

If you're interested in joining the boats, email volunteering@rnli.org.uk (yes, I know it's a UK address, but it's correct) or visit http://www.rnli.ie and search for your local stations for more contact information.

ojewriej

Gil_Dub wrote: »

The lifeboats aren't the only entirely voluntary emergency service out there Nog....MR has 350 vol's who cover ALL their expenses, training/petrol/equipment themselves, and save many lives each year. We're also involved in the search and recovery of suicides, drownings and all sorts of other unsavoury situations....

This shouldn't degenerate into a "we're better than them" type nonsense though, so let's just give RNLI a pat on the back, as you intended.

Respect goes out to the Lifeboat crews - they're an example of selflessness for all of us.

If you're interested in joining the boats, email volunteering@rnli.org.uk (yes, I know it's a UK address, but it's correct) or visit http://www.rnli.ie and search for your local stations for more contact information.

I did contact them, on this email, they basically told me to contact my local station. I'm going to do it, but was hoping someone here would be able to give me some info based on their personal experience.

Thanks though. And what's MR?

BeardyGit

MR = Mountain Rescue. c350 volunteers on 12 teams around the country. We work through the Gardaí as our tasking agency, and provide 24x7x365 assistance, nationwide.

If you ever need us, call 999 and ask for mountain rescue

koko3100

been on a Lifeboat crew over 12 years could recommend it .
Its a good buzz to help somebody out when they are really in trouble

How close to a Lifeboat station are you & where ? ,
It varies from station to station how they recruit crew ,
for instance places Dun Laoghaire or Howth would have no bother getting full crews but remoter stations would be keener for new crew ,
It really depends on how much experience you have & proximity to a lifeboat station

Lots of stations have their own website , this will let you know how busy they are type of boat inshore ,All weather whos on the crew ,events etc

You could find out when your local lifeboat station exercises most do weekly or fortnightly at regular times ,info on www.rnli.co.uk under each stations info (also has contact details) then hang around the station and watch the boat going out and see what its like
Let me know if you have any more specific questions ask me

Steyr

Hi all Vulcan57 was a RNLI member, PM him if you like.:)

ChunkyManSkinny

I am not on a lifeboat crew (have been rescued by a Royal Navy helicopter airlift though and been on a lifeboat from Baltimore to Cape Clear on a fundraising day!).
My father is active with the lifeboats in Crosshaven and Baltimore in various capacities. He has acted as the on call doctor for Crosshaven (he had to be within 15 mins drive of the station at all times when on call) and fundraising for Baltimore.

These are my opinion so they are most certainly disputable!

I am presuming the distance rule applies for crew so they can respond to a call in quickest time possible? That may be one of the conditions.
Maybe dexterity due to having to work in rolling seas and an ability to "drive" to life boat.

I suppose contact the nearest station and ask their criteria and training

vulcan57

Go for it is all I can say. I am a former RNLI crew member both here and the UK and would recommend it to anyone. You will need a good degree of dedication and not worried about being called on at a moments notice, even in the middle of the night in weather that you would'nt put a bad dog out in. Having said that, there is a great deal of comradary and there are often crew nights out and socialising among crew. Like that that has been mentioned here already, your best bet is to contact your local station and offer you services, some may not be taking on crew but will often take your contact details in case they are recruiting. At some stations there maybe a probationary period as, although voluntary, this is a service that requires high levels of skills that you will learn, and a very professional service that is arguably one of the finest of its type in the world, and one that a lot of lifeboat services around the world model themselves on.

I also quite agree that the MRT's around the country and those in the UK are short on well deserved praise. They are also selfless volunteers that put their lives on the line for others.

Hope this is of some help.

vulcan57

If you would like to see what times and frequencies that lifeboats are called on then why not download their desktop pager here http://www.rnli.org.uk/what_we_do/lifeboats/desktoppager/desktoppager

This is connected to all the pagers of all the RNLI lifeboats and lets you know when any of their lifeboats are out. There is a delay of about half an hour but as things go it it's pretty much instant.