Haven and the RNLI introduce workplace water safety training to help save lives this summer

Leading UK holiday company Haven, in partnership with the RNLI have launched fundamental water safety training to team members across parks and central support team members to give them a greater understanding of the dangers in open water and help save lives during what will be the busiest summer, with holidaymakers flocking to UK beaches for staycations this year.

May is a key fundraising month for the RNLI with their annual Mayday campaign raising awareness of water safety during their busiest time of the year. With more people drawn to the coast during the summer, the introduction of the water safety training for the Haven team members is essential, allowing team members to learn the most common risk factors and ways to minimise them. The training will cover areas such as cold-water shock, rip currents, tide times and understanding what flags on beaches signify.

“The roll out of this training is a fantastic step in ensuring all team members have a fundamental understanding of being safe in and offshore. This knowledge can also be shared with their friends and families, raising the awareness, reducing risks and helping to save lives across the UK” - Gerard Tempest, Chief Marketing Officer.  

Since launching the partnership with the charity in 2018, over £310,000 has been raised by Haven team, guests and owners, through fundraising efforts that has helped fund items such as new inshore lifeboats, full kit for inshore crew members or essential training for lifeguards.

With over 2.5 million holidaymakers visiting Haven parks each year, it is vital to keep shores safe and rescue people whose lives are in danger. The RNLI lifeguards rescue around 24,000 people every year and it’s their mission to educate and share water safety knowledge to reduce the risk and tragedies both on and offshore.

“Saving lives is at the heart of everything we do and we see it as our duty to educate people on how they can lessen the risk of putting themselves in danger. We’re pleased to be rolling out this water safety training programme to the Haven team members. We believe it will be extremely beneficial to the team and holidaymakers who visit the parks.” said Ross Martin, Partnerships Manager for the RNLI.

For more information about the charity visit www.rnli.org or follow @RNLI on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.