RNLI lifeguards are set to begin their full-time summer safety service this weekend at five key locations in Ceredigion.

From Saturday (26 May) lifeguards will be providing daily safety patrols on some of the county’s most popular stretches of shoreline, including Llangrannog and New Quay Harbour, with Aberporth, Aberystwyth North and Borth becoming full-time from June 16.

Vinny Vincent, RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor, is expecting another busy season for the Ceredigion team.

He said: “Ceredigion boasts some beautiful beaches, and we would always encourage anyone planning a trip to the seaside to visit a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags.”

The full-time patrols will be on duty daily between 10am and 6pm until the end of the season on September 2. Patrols will also be added at Tresaith, Aberystwyth South and Clarach during the season.

RNLI lifeguards will patrol 38 beaches across Wales in 2018. Lifeguards responded to 1,075 incidents in Wales last year and rescued or assisted 1,219 people.

The RNLI has launched its Respect the Water drowning prevention campaign, with advice for anyone who finds themselves unexpectedly in cold water.

Most people who die around the UK coast never expected to enter the water at all and the RNLI is urging anyone who falls into cold water to fight their instincts and remember one simple skill – floating – which could save lives from drowning.

Vinny said: “We often rely on our instincts but our instinctive response to sudden immersion in cold water – gasping, thrashing and swimming hard – is potentially a killer. It increases the chances of water entering your lungs, increases the strain on your heart, cools the skin further and lets air escape from any clothing, which then reduces buoyancy.

“Although it’s counter-intuitive, the best immediate course of action in that situation is to fight your instinct and try to float or rest, just for a short time. The effects of cold water shock will pass quite quickly, within 60–90 seconds. Floating for this short time will let you regain control of your breathing and your survival chances will greatly increase.”