Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards are searching for new volunteer rescuers to join their organisation.
HM Coastguard is responsible for Search and Rescue around the coast of the UK, as well as at sea, and to respond to emergencies there are around 400 Coastguard Rescue Teams placed strategically around the coast.
These teams are made up from men and women from the local community who volunteer their time to learn new skills and help those in need.
Volunteers come from all walks of life. Among them are doctors, fishermen, office managers, carpenters and driving instructors. Some are experienced coastal users but this is not a necessity as full training is provided.
Teams are trained in lots of different rescue skills. Whilst all are qualified in Water Rescue, Communications and First Aid, teams may have additional skills such as Cliff Rescue and Mud Rescue depending on their local coastline.
Teams can be called out by the Coastguard Operations Centre for a variety of reasons from searching for missing people or passing safety advice to tourists to rescuing a person trapped in mud. Teamwork is crucial during every incident and we often work alongside the other emergency services during an emergency.
Emergencies may occur at any time of the day or night, often in the worst of weather. To be eligible, volunteers must be reasonably fit, have a full UK driving licence, be aged 18 or over, live or work within 20 minutes of the Rescue Station, and have good availability.
To find out more about the role of volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer and find out how to apply please visit www.gov.uk/coastguard-volunteers or email area12@mcga.gov.uk. The deadline for applications is Sunday 26th June 2016
