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National 090/01
4 May 2001
MCA AND RNLI JOIN FORCES FOR
TV FILM
The Maritime and
Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the RNLI have produced a TV Public
Information Broadcast in a bid to reduce the many preventable accidents
and deaths that occur on our coastline every year, focusing on promoting
'Sea Smart' beach safety messages to parents of young children across
the UK.
The film will be launched on bank holiday Monday May 7 and promoted
across national television, all subscription channels and for viewing at
football stadiums, shopping centres, ferry terminals, and airports
across the UK. |
BEACH SAFETY MESSAGES
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This TV film
'Beside the Seaside', produced on location at Weymouth in March 2001,
will alert parents and youngsters to the potential dangers when
holidaying at the coast.
During last year's summer holiday season HM Coastguard co-ordinated the
rescue of over 200 children on inflatable toys swept out to sea purely
because these inflatables had not been tethered on the beach. Last year
statistics show that the Coastguard was alerted to 1572 yachts and
dinghies in need of assistance where, for instance, sailors had not
taken account of the weather forecast or checked the amount of fuel on
board.
MCA's Chief Coastguard, John Astbury said, "People want to relax
when on holiday with their family, however we urge parents to make
themselves aware of dangers at coast and we hope that this film will
make all the family aware of our coastal safety messages and in doing so
will ensure they enjoy every minute of their holiday safely.
"A lot of effort went into making this film not least from the
volunteer teams of the RNLI lifeboats at Weymouth and the Coastguard
teams from the Portland area. Weymouth & Portland Borough Council
also gave great support and, amongst other things, helped organise a
group of school children to take part in the film. The MCA and the RNLI
would like to thank everyone involved, it was a great team effort."
Peter Bradley, National Sea Safety Manager at the RNLI said, "This
is an excellent opportunity for our two organisations to work together
to promote sea safety and to highlight some of the dangers we both have
to deal with, sadly all too regularly.
"We hope that between us and through this film we can really make a
difference." |
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