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  Ive just had this email through from Martin Collins one of the Press Officers at RNLI and he clearly gives us some very good info there...Many thanks Martin. Well done with that......very grateful for the info as ever.
  
  
  "
  
  Hi Paul,
  
  Looks good. I've just been having a look and to answer your question about the hosing down of our crewmembers.
  
  Bio security is a serious concern when dealing with anything that concerns bodily fluids and this is one reason for the wash down. However the wash down of any crewmember that has been using a dry suit no matter what the occasion. Salt water is corrosive and so needs to be rinsed off and for this same reason the lifeboat will be scrubbed, washed and rinsed in fresh water every time it comes back from an exercise or emergency. The cold water shower although it might look unpleasant is refreshing and essential considering that the lifeboat volunteer may be going straight back to work. The dry suits are then dried and before going back into use have talcum powder applied to the neck and wrist cuffs to keep them supple and easier to put on and the heavy duty zips are rubbed with wax to help lubricate them.
  
  
  
  Colin's comment about us being the fourth emergency service is greatly appreciated but not quite correct. As I understand it an emergency service is defined as one that answers its own 999 calls. The Police, Ambulance and Fire Services all have their own emergency control operators and so the fourth emergency service in Kent would be HM Coastguard. They then have what are called declared assets that they can call upon. The RNLI is one of those resources. To name a few others that might be employed locally include:
  
  RAF SAR Helicopters
  Emergency Towing Vessel 'Anglian Monarch'
  The volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers
  Kent Search and Rescue (Lowland)
  
  
  Martin
  
  
  
  Martin Collins
  
  Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer - Dover
  
  "

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