Waterside Responder guidance for Mermaid Quay staff

On Thursday 17 August 2023, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) attended the Operation Seabird Cymru event in Cardiff Bay, to carry out  ‘Waterside Responder’ guidance for Mermaid Quay staff.

Waterside Responder is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) scheme which provides free guidance and throwlines to venue staff around the UK to help prevent accidental drownings.

SWFRS and RNLI have created a partnership to carry out this life saving guidance for staff at venues inland within South Wales.

Cardiff Bay is a very popular destination for people to attend and have a good time. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and attractions for all ages, which is why SWFRS found it important to provide the advice for Mermaid Quay staff and make them ‘Water Aware’.

Road Safety Manager for SWFRS, Dave Vaughan, said:

“Alcohol is a factor which can make people more inclined to go into water. Even on a warm day, water can be extremely cold. It can steal the air from a person’s lungs, which can stop a person being able to swim or stay afloat.

“The guidance involved raising awareness amongst venue staff on the dangers of cold-water shock and how vital the first three minutes of a person entering the water is for survival. The venues are issued with throwlines that have been donated free of charge by the RNLI.”

Staff were then showed how to stay in contact with the casualty, contact emergency services and carry out a simple technique using a throwline to bring them to safety. This potential lifesaving guidance will also prevent other members of the public entering water to attempt to carry out a rescue.

SWFRS will be returning to Cardiff Bay at the end of the 2023 summer school holidays to do more with other venues that are waterside.

How to use an emergency throwline video:

Helpful Resources:

• RNLI – Safety Advice for Water Activities
• RLSS – Advice During Recreational Activity
• NFCC – Be Water Aware
• National Water Safety – Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy

Operation Seabird Cymru

Operation Seabird is a national campaign that aims to engage and educate people about the sensitivities of the coastline and how simple changes in behaviour could reduce pressure on our unique wildlife.

Partners from across Wales support this campaign, and we recently attended an event in Cardiff Bay alongside South Wales Police to raise awareness of the campaign and the effects on local wildlife.