Scotland’s rugged coastline and tumultuous seas are renowned for their beauty, but also for their danger. The unpredictable weather and strong currents make Scottish waters a challenging environment for even the most experienced swimmers and surfers. In fact, the seas around Scotland have been known to claim many lives over the years, highlighting the importance of having highly trained lifeguards on hand to rescue those in trouble.
Surfers, in particular, are a group who are often drawn to the waves of the Scottish coastline. However, the combination of cold water, strong currents, and sometimes extreme weather conditions can lead to dangerous situations. That’s why it’s essential that lifeguards who work in these areas undergo extensive training to be able to rescue surfers who find themselves in trouble.
Aberdeen Surf Life Saving Club plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of beachgoers and surfers in the Aberdeen area. The club is made up of a team of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about keeping the beaches and waters around Aberdeen safe for everyone to enjoy. They offer a wide range of activities, including beach patrols, water safety training, and surf lifesaving competitions. The club also works closely with local authorities and emergency services to provide support in case of emergencies.
Like many other sectors, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on clubs just like Aberdeen SLSC, and their ability to train in 2020. With restrictions in place on gatherings and travel, many teams found themselves unable to carry out their usual training exercises and drills. This posed a significant challenge, as regular training is essential for the club’s members to maintain their skills and be prepared to respond to emergencies effectively.
To adapt to the situation, the club turned to using training manikins in place of live volunteers to represent their casualties, as detailed in Surf Life Saving GB’s official COVID-19 guidelines.
The club chose our 40kg Man Overboard manikin, commonly known as ‘Dead Fred’ and used by water rescue teams around the world (including the British Royal Navy). This manikin provided a safe and effective alternative to using live casualties in training exercises allowing the SLSC volunteers to continue with their essential training whilst complying with COVID-19 guidelines.
Skipping forwards to 2023, long after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Aberdeen SLSC’s manikin – aptly named ‘Private Ryan’ – continues to play a “central part” in the club’s regular training. It can often be seen in the waves during rescue and extrication drills, helping lifeguards hone their skills in a realistic and safe environment. Despite the return to normality, Aberdeen SLSC recognises the ongoing value of using the Ruth Lee Training Manikin and continues to incorporate it into their training regime.
Chris Leach, Club Treasurer at Aberdeen SLSC said:
“The manikin provides a tougher, more realistic representation of a casualty especially when it comes to board rescues – A “live” casualty will tend to help by naturally balancing themselves so as to not fall off the board. Private Ryan (our manikin) is completely uncooperative.”
“So far our experience is that they are a good facsimile for a real-life unconscious casualty. To date, Pte Ryan has shown to be hard wearing and tough.”
Aberdeen SLSC are not alone in continuing to use manikins long after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. From Scotland down to Wales, other surf life saving teams are still utilising manikins as a vital part of their training. One such team is Crantock SLSC, who have added our Surf Rescue manikin to their training arsenal. With realistic weight and buoyancy designed specifically for snatch rescue training, this manikin provides an invaluable tool for teams to practice and perfect their rescue techniques.
Find out more about our manikins for water rescue here
Get in touch with Aberdeen Surf Life Saving Club via their Website or Facebook.