Reddingsbrigade Vaantje
Prijs per stuk: € 4,00
Prijs per stuk: € 4,00
The KNBRD Reddingsbrigades Nederland (Royal Dutch Water Life Saving Association) is the overall organisation of 182 life brigades throughout the Netherlands.
Those life brigades have 30.000 voluntary members, youth included, of which about 5.000 are active as lifeguards during the summer season.
Those life brigades have 30.000 voluntary members, youth included, of which about 5.000 are active as lifeguards during the summer season.
The concentration of the life brigades is along the coast from North to South and further on along the shores of the inland lakes where water recreation takes place.
Their primary task is prevention; watching bathers and swimmers along the coastline.
Their secondary task is to take action as accidents occur with small sailing boats and surfboards.
To do their job, our lifeguards have to their disposal small lifeboats with radio communication on board. These can be various boats, e.g. all polyester or rigid inflatables with outboard motors.
The KNBRD itself provides different models from all polyester patrol, to fast rescue boats.
Further tasks of the lifeguards are of course first aid, resuscitation in cases of near drowning, taking care of lost children and so on.
Their secondary task is to take action as accidents occur with small sailing boats and surfboards.
To do their job, our lifeguards have to their disposal small lifeboats with radio communication on board. These can be various boats, e.g. all polyester or rigid inflatables with outboard motors.
The KNBRD itself provides different models from all polyester patrol, to fast rescue boats.
Further tasks of the lifeguards are of course first aid, resuscitation in cases of near drowning, taking care of lost children and so on.
For all the aspects of life saving, the KNBRD has an extensive education program, beginning with swimming lessons for 5 year olds to instructor courses for navigation of the life boats. All these courses are given by voluntary members of the KNBRD.
In most cases the life brigades are financially supported by the local government in exchange for the security on the beaches of the municipal area.
In most cases the life brigades are financially supported by the local government in exchange for the security on the beaches of the municipal area.
For years we have asked our life brigades to take notes of their rescue operations. Only a few respond. The reason is that our lifeguards see their actions as their normal human duty and think that administration is superfluous. However we will keep working on this very important item, because with these data we can prove our right and necessity to exist.
The KNBRD and its life brigades work together with all other life saving organisations in the Netherlands and is therefore represented in various consultation structures. The cooperation also takes place during SAR actions, mostly along the North sea Coast, according to certain agreements. The coordination centre for these actions is the Kustwacht (Coast Guard), who decides which life saving organisation(s) must be alerted.
Normally the KNBRD life brigades charge no salvage money for their actions. However thankful gifts after a rescue action are of course welcome!
Besides the above mentioned tasks of our life brigades, we can be summond by the national or local goverment to give aid in case of water catastrophes. There are arrangements with life brigades that they can provide a so called "disaster crew" with all the necessary life saving material. For this reason we yearly organise a big SOS exercise to control the alert system and to test the knowledge and capabilities of our lifeguards.
We consider it our duty to provide our life brigades with good and up to date material and training courses.
The public depends more and more on the KNBRD life brigades while it's becoming more difficult to keep the voluntary members after they have learned the basics and last but not least, to find
a sponsor for material and clothing. However, our mission stays: to prevent drowning and water related incidents for all people!
We consider it our duty to provide our life brigades with good and up to date material and training courses.
The public depends more and more on the KNBRD life brigades while it's becoming more difficult to keep the voluntary members after they have learned the basics and last but not least, to find
a sponsor for material and clothing. However, our mission stays: to prevent drowning and water related incidents for all people!
