Should RNLI Crews be Breath Tested?

[Guest]

Before or after a shout? Some bureaucrat is bound to think of this one soon. As for me, although I have never needed them, thank God, I gladly put my trust in their very capable hands without asking for proof of sobriety. In fact, I'd rather have an RNLI crew come to me with a pint or two in their bellies than have no one at all.

 

[Guest]

Since they are volunteers they can be a pissed as they want as long as one of them is sober enough to drive and I'd agree with you in that I'd be glad of their assistance in any instance. The old RN policy of being considered sober if you were capable of carrying out your duties always seemed sensible to me.

Wully

 

[Guest]

How not to help the helpers

6 years ago on New Years Eve in mid-Wales we were guests of an off duty GP and his wife. It was no small gathering. Shortly after the last stroke of midnight the phone rang and it was the Heddlu (police for everyone else in this world) The onduty GP was involved elsewhere and would the doctor phoned attend a road accident a few miles away from his house. He explained that nobody in his house was fit to drive .... So they pleaded ... and he got into his car and attended the accident (2 seriouslly injured and one fatal) ... Without him there possibly might have been 3 fatal. .... After getting the victims out he was breathalised by the same police sergeant who had phoned him and was duly fined £400 and banned from driving for 2 years in spite of witness statements that the police had bent over backwards to get him to attend.

He was the sole GP in an overlarge area - It took another 3 years to get another GP to take over his practice .... It was most unfortunate that immediately after having been found guilty by a deaf Magistrate that the policeman who had both rung and breathaylsed him had a teenage daughter with chronic asthma and she has a severe attack. As he was both struck off and couldn't drive the policeman's daughter died he was unable to attend. Sadly that's not the end of the story. The same Policeman tried to sue the erstwhile Doctor for negligence and dereliction of duty ... (BTW it would have involved a 27 cycle ride ... and had he attended whilst being struck off ...)

We live is a sad upside down world where burocrats with no experience of life write the rules where Parliamentians with no experience of what happens in the never-never land pontificate, vote and then slap themselves on the back for having improved society.

The Lifeboat Voluteers risk everything and risk it gladly. If one or more dies in the course of duty more new volunteers want to take his place. (I was going to say something else about the paid and unpaid .... but I won't and I'll put £10 in Porth Dinllaen's box on Friday)

Chuns, if you are about, is it correct that every penny raised in Ireland goes exclusively to Ireland and that we have to subsidise them to keep them going?

Nige





Birgitta

 

[Guest]

Re: How not to help the helpers

A sad story indeed. However cruel it may sound we reap what we sow.
As to the RNLI in Ireland, Please no devolution, I cross the Irish sea and have used boats in Wales and Scotland always with that comfortable feeling that the RNLI are there if needed. If they had to shut down an area because it didn't make enough money would that be progress or politics?

 

[Peter_Chennell]

Re: How not to help the helpers

All lifeboat sations receive the same level of backup and service. Irish stations are not "subsidised" any more than, say, one in the Shetland Islands. The route of expenditure is generally not directly linked to the source of the income.

 

[Mirelle]

Re: How not to help the helpers

If it were, Birmingham might well have the best lifeboat in these islands!

 

[charles_reed]

Re: How not to help the helpers

It's easy to say, after the event, but perhaps the GP should have agreed to come if they'd sent a driver for him ..., then he'd probably been in trouble with the GMC!!

Roll on the day when the RNLI crew offer to help if you'll fetch them...

 

[Guest]

There is no doubt in my mind that nobody including the RNLI should set to sea in a state drunkeness or intoxication. Should a lifeboatman set out in this state he/she would be risking the life of the crew in general. Most lifeboat stations have a surplus of crew and drink stinkers should be filtered out BEFORE the boat goes out. It is true to say that certain crews have been known to turn out from the pub and I know for a fact that some have made very bad decisions causing loss of equipment and lives. This is sadly inevitable and the Lifeboat Secs are to blame if this happens.

If a crew is drunk it is also incapable and shame on them if they do set out. That applies to the rescuer and the rescued. Drink and the sea mix badly, just as drink and driving a car.

What happens if the RNLI are too drunk in a particular area to turn out?? You send for the Royal Navy - they are under pain of death to remainh sober and always endeavour to do their best to rescue anyone.

One other question I would pose to the originator of this thread. - What spurred you to think about this?? Do you know for sure that a particular crew have turned out drunk - if so, report them immediately to the RNLI Head Office - Coastguard - Royal Navy and the Police. Certainly if they have contributed to damage or loss of life they should be made to pay.

 

[Guest]

As the originator if this thread I have every confidence in the RNLI and their individual crews to sort out this question (like many others) on an individual situation basis. I have no evidence of any RNLI crew being "incapable" on duty - only the inevitable pub tales we all hear, probably originating more from respect for the heroism of the RNLI crews than a criticism. RNLI crews know each other extremely well - their individual strengths and weakness, special skills, etc, and when to use them and when not. In situations like this there can be no hard and fast rule, but a dependence on knowlegable judgement and teamwork through experiance. I have every faith and confidence that will be used to the best of each individual's and crew's ability. Let the results speak for themselves.
The thought behind this thread was the risk and fear that the creaping burocracy referred to so frequently in this forum will end up attacking one of the few public activities that in my humble opinion works extremely well, and it happens to be privately run on a charitable basis. I support the RNLI management in their determination to stay that way. I wonder if there is a lesson in this. The story of the GP in this thread is an excellent example of just what I had in mind. Am I alone in being concerned?
P.S. I've just decided to increase my RNLI contribution to help keep things as they are.

 

[Bergman]

Gosh

I wish I was as virtuous as you.

Interesting thought about the RN. I remember the time - not that long ago, when a substantial drink of rum was issued every day to RN crews. If the breathalyser standard was applied the entire crew would shot at dawn.

There is a difference between drunk and incapable and "over the limit"

I do not see why you should expect anyone to become a total abstainer in order to be on 24 hr standby to man the lifeboat on a voluntary basis.

Neither do I think you or anyone else has the right make uncorroberated accusations against people who voluntarily risk their lives to try to save ours.

I have met several RNLI coxswains, some in pubs, other not and I do not believe any of them would take "incapable" crew to sea but equally I do not believe they would want to breathalise their entire crew before launch.

Perhaps it would be better for all concerned if stupid regulations were ignored by all but stupid people.

PS

I run a "dry boat" and have not drunk alcohol for years.