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Another Daily Mail article that is unfairly critical of RNLI today. This is a pattern with the DM who have criticised RNLI in the past for dismissing volunteers with pornographic material on duty & for funding international drowning prevention work (both good decisions I think)
This latest unfair story is scapegoating RNLI for problems caused by the government's response and communications during coronavirus. In this example RNLI are the target but we've also seen teachers treated similarly.
Some examples of the real problems this article points to:
Some examples of the real problems this article points to:
1) No notice on policy announcements.
Complex policies are announced by gov. at 5pm to come into effect quickly - sometimes the next day - but no-one has sight of them beforehand. Impossible to respond safely in time but responsibility is effectively shifted away from gov
Complex policies are announced by gov. at 5pm to come into effect quickly - sometimes the next day - but no-one has sight of them beforehand. Impossible to respond safely in time but responsibility is effectively shifted away from gov
2) We're still in lockdown but it isn't being communicate well/at all
Beaches & parks are full with people in groups confused by the rules or having lost faith in gov. In a pandemic it's the government's job to communicate what is safe. They are failing at this.
Beaches & parks are full with people in groups confused by the rules or having lost faith in gov. In a pandemic it's the government's job to communicate what is safe. They are failing at this.
3) People have begun to accept & expect certain people to both risk & lose their lives.
The DM article includes this quote:
"lifeguards are fit & healthy & even if they contracted Covid-19 he said 'the opinion of most of the lifeguards is that they would make a full recovery"
The DM article includes this quote:
"lifeguards are fit & healthy & even if they contracted Covid-19 he said 'the opinion of most of the lifeguards is that they would make a full recovery"
Use of 'most' here so acceptance people will die and then it would likely be framed as a 'sacrifice' rather than a death that could have been preventable with effective policy, communication and PPE
4) Gov. doesn't treat charities like the lifesaving partners they are.
Hospices, refuges, lifeguards, air ambulance are all charities but gov makes announcements without seeking their expertise or support to make sure everyone can be safe and well.
Hospices, refuges, lifeguards, air ambulance are all charities but gov makes announcements without seeking their expertise or support to make sure everyone can be safe and well.
Charities want to work with gov to save lives but this requires genuine partnership.
In this example not only do we see a failure of gov to join up the dots but a failure to take responsibility for the realities of the decisions it is making.
In this example not only do we see a failure of gov to join up the dots but a failure to take responsibility for the realities of the decisions it is making.
