A new volunteer crew member at Appledore RNLI lifeboat station has learnt sea survival skills thanks to a share of £1million funding. Jo Tattersall, one of Appledore RNLIs newest lifeboat crew, recently completed the charitys Trainee Crew Course at RNLI College in Poole, Dorset. The course included learning key sea survival skills such as how to abandon ship; team survival swimming; and coping on a liferaft in simulated darkness. She also learnt how to manage a fire aboard a lifeboat; how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat; and the importance of lifejackets. Jo said: It was great to be able to both consolidate training learned on station and try out techniques for the first time. Having the ability to experience the abandonment to the life rafts and the capsize, re-righting and re-boarding of an Atlantic 85 in controlled conditions was invaluable. Jo has already been on several emergency shouts including investigating an unidentified floating object and assisting a broken down RIB. The course was funded by Lloyds Register (LR) Foundation, a UK registered charity that connects science, safety and society by supporting research and promoting skills and education. Wendy Dale, Appledores lifeboat operations manager, said: The support given by LR Foundation is hugely important to the RNLI. This training is vital to help keep volunteers as safe as possible while on rescue missions. It equips volunteers with essential sea survival skills; providing them with the courage, poise and self-confidence to save lives even in the most perilous seas.Click here to return to our homepage for more North Devon news.
