Staff who work near water are being trained to save lives.

It’s parrt of the RNLI’s community safety team’s waterside responder scheme.

Over the past few months, the team has been working with the Coastguard to introduce the scheme.

Similar schemes have been successful in the UK and has saved lives. The RNLI’s Respect The Water campaign aims to half the number of accidental drownings by 2024.

It is aimed at waterside businesses, training their staff to be able to safely use a rescue throwline and store them on their premises to use in an emergency situation.

These could be pub staff, door staff, office workers or shop employees - anyone who works close to a quayside environment.

This week, staff from five quayside public houses in Ramsey were trained and able to help the community in time for TT.

The equipment, training and maintenance is provided free of charge.

The team intends to approach other quayside businesses after TT and aims to have least two waterside responders in each area.

It is also going to make four rescue throwlines available for public events.

The Isle of Man RNLI community team leader is Edd Christian, who can be contacted via email at [email protected]