Heroes on the water.
November 30th, 2011
Where would we be without Coastguard volunteers? The thought crossed my mind again at the weekend when I was invited to speak about the media at Coastguard's annual conference in Nelson.
Hundreds gathered from all over the country. They share one important goal - saving lives at sea.
Ten Rescues A Day
In an average day, New Zealand Coastguard crew are involved in ten rescues on the water. That’s over 3500 incidents every year, involving over 5600 people who may not be with us today if it wasn't for Coastguard.
The service is provided by highly trained, professional volunteers. There's no doubting their dedication. These are the people who head out in dangerous or challenging conditions, to assist or save the ones you love.
It is often tough work, but the rewards are immense. The volunteers say they enjoy a certain camaraderie. It's unique to those who've shared in the challenge of saving a life. And Coastguard saves plenty.
Trained Volunteers
When they receive the call to help, Coastguard volunteers race from their days jobs to take their place on one of 75 rescue vessels around New Zealand. One minute they might be doing computer work or office administration. The next they're battling high seas and stormy weather, to assist or rescue those who need help.
There are 1800 Coastguard volunteers in new Zealand. They volunteer more than 300,000 hours every year. And let's not forget Coastguard is a charity. It's funded almost entirely by donations and grants. Coastguard relies on continued public support to deliver this remarkable service.
How You Can Help
There are two things all of us can do to assist Coastguard New Zealand. The first is stay safe by following the five rules in the Boating Safety Code:
1. Life jackets. (Carry them on board, and wear them.)
2. Skipper responsibility. (Take charge e.g. have a safety briefing for your passengers)
3. Communication (Have two waterproof ways of communicating)
4. Marine weather (Check the forecast before you go.)
5. Avoid alcohol (Stay alert and aware.)
The second thing you can do to help Coastguard continue saving lives at sea is to make a donation.
This is one service worth supporting.
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