Thank you, Coastguard.

[Longlockdown]

For being out there in the dark, saving lives whilst I'm in my bed, safe.
Just that.

Used to make my blood BOIL when the AA decided THEY were the "4th emergency service"...

[Anordinarymum]

It makes me cross when the guy from Amazon says he is a key worker

[FallonsTeaRoom]

It makes my blood boil when I read how many of the lifeboat call outs are hoaxes too.

[CoffeeRunner]

Absolutely. Risking their lives to help people in the most challenging conditions.

All too often in situations brought about by people’s own foolishness.

See also Mountain Rescue.

[PivotPivott]

Yes absolutely. We live right by the local small airport where our coastguard takes off from. You hear it all hours.
Winds me up when hoax callers find it funny. Now sure that anyone risking their life for you is funny but some people are twisted.

[HavelockVetinari]

Agreed. Lots of lifeboat crews are volunteers too. Remember the Penlee Lifeboat Disaster?

[redlockscelt]

Also the many volunteer lifeguards inland and on beaches.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

I thought all lifeboats were manned by volunteers?

Ditto Mountain Rescue.

Although I’ve just watched Ambulance with volunteer responders.

We really rely on the third estate.

[TooTrueToBeGood]

@CoffeeRunner

Absolutely. Risking their lives to help people in the most challenging conditions.

All too often in situations brought about by people’s own foolishness.

See also Mountain Rescue.

Foolishness is a strong word. I am very active in the outdoors (or was until covid knocked the shit out of my stamina). I am sensitive to the fact that people often just do not know what they don't know. It doesn't mean they are stupid, thick or foolish, just that they don't have knowledge in a specific field. In coaching we call it unconscious incompetence and it is not meant as a put down but recognition of where someone is on the learning curve and their level of relevant knowledge. I am proud to live in a country where people can freely venture on to the water or into the hills without licenses or certificates knowing that organisations like the CG, RNLI and mountain rescue have their backs on the very rare occasions when things go pear shaped. Our awesome volunteer and professional rescue services underpin the freedoms that we all too often take for granted. Isn't it a great thing to be able to take freedom to roam for granted?

[redlockscelt]

@JayAlfredPrufrock

I thought all lifeboats were manned by volunteers?

Ditto Mountain Rescue.

Although I’ve just watched Ambulance with volunteer responders.

We really rely on the third estate.

I'm not sure but life guards are different to the lifeboat staff, some are paid and some are volunteers

[redlockscelt]

Foolishness is a strong word. I am very active in the outdoors (or was until covid knocked the shit out of my stamina). I am sensitive to the fact that people often just do not know what they don't know. It doesn't mean they are stupid, thick or foolish, just that they don't have knowledge in a specific field.

I reserve foolishness for the ones I see setting off up Ben Nevis or Snowdon in flip flops

[FreezerBird]

Used to make my blood BOIL when the AA decided THEY were the "4th emergency service"...

Yes those adverts caused a lot of shouting at the TV in our family too. (One lifeboat crew, one coastguard volunteer, one who's been rescued from a cave with a broken leg by Cave Rescue volunteers, several mountain rescue friends...)

[BackforGood]

Absolutely, OP, and I too wanted to add on mountain rescue teams.
Wonderful people.

[TooTrueToBeGood]

@redlockscelt

Foolishness is a strong word. I am very active in the outdoors (or was until covid knocked the shit out of my stamina). I am sensitive to the fact that people often just do not know what they don't know. It doesn't mean they are stupid, thick or foolish, just that they don't have knowledge in a specific field.

I reserve foolishness for the ones I see setting off up Ben Nevis or Snowdon in flip flops

Presumably you realise that those cases represent a tiny fraction of a decimal of a percent of all the people that trek up those hills. Why are you obsessing so much over outliers? Do you really have to stretch to such extremes to validate yourself? That's rather sad really.

[redlockscelt]

Who rattled your cage ? When I lived in Llanberis you'd see many people heading up snowdon in flip flops (I worked in the cafe at the bottom)

[MooseBeTimeForSummer]

The crew at the station at Spurn Point are full time salaried.

[Frownette]

I think they're brilliant. I had a chance to admire their work at close quarters and wanted to join in.