Becky Mack is a volunteer lifeboat crew member for the RNLI at Swanage, Dorset.

Q. How would you outline your role?
A. If my pager goes off I make my way to the lifeboat station, whatever time of the day or night. We aim to have a lifeboat launched within 10 minutes. The pager message tells us the launch of a lifeboat has been requested and which lifeboat has been asked for, either the inshore lifeboat (ILB), all-weather lifeboat (ALB or both boats.

Q. What are your main responsibilities?
A. To provide our lifesaving service up to 100 miles off-shore. We have to get our lifeboat to the scene as quickly as is safely possible and then position our lifeboat and crew appropriately to perform the rescue safely.

Q. What hours do you work?
A. We are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We never know when we will be called to a rescue and we can be at sea anything from a few minutes to many hours. Traditionally we are busy during the summer season although this year we have had a number of winter call outs. I am a volunteer crew member so I also have a full time job. I also train every Wednesday for three to four hours.

Q. What is your working environment like?
A. Our smaller lifeboat is for inshore work and the larger lifeboat can operate inshore or go offshore. We provide an emergency service and therefore go out in all weathers as people can get into difficulty in any weather conditions. The work can be dangerous. Sometimes we have to be clipped onto the deck and make our way around the boat using the handrails.

Q. Who do you work with?
A. The crew members come from all walks of life and employment, with ages ranging from 20 to those in their fifties. The youngest you can be when you apply to join the crew is 17. We are a very close-knit team because we know we may have to rely on each other in challenging situations.

Q. What special skills or qualities do you need?
A. Commitment is very important. We have great mutual respect for each other as we are all there as volunteers, prepared to give our time and, sometimes, risk our lives.

Q. Why did you choose this type of work?
A. I was spending a lot of time on the water and with people who were already crew members. I live by the sea and I had an interest in getting further involved with my local community. Before joining the crew, I spent time at the lifeboat station seeing what they do.

Q. Have you had any training?
A. Initially, I had training in launching and recovering the lifeboats at our station and ropework.  In my first year I also completed a training course at the RNLI Headquarters where we were taught first aid, sea survival and fire fighting. I had to be assessed as competent in each area. We have the opportunity to train every week, at the lifeboat station as well as at sea, to refresh and extend our knowledge and skills, making sure we train in all conditions including rough seas so we are ready to deal with such conditions. Some of the training involves simulations of rescue situations. We also have training to gain new skills and extend our responsibilities amongst the crew, perhaps becoming a second coxswain, a helmsman or a navigator.

Q. Do you use any special tools or equipment?
A. On the inshore lifeboat we wear an all-in-one dry suit with steel toe cap rubber welly boots attached over a fleece layer, a lifejacket and a helmet with a visor. As well as the equipment already onboard the lifeboat we also carry handheld radios Torches and night-vision glasses are also carried additionally at night only. On the all-weather boat we wear steel toecap welly boots and oilskins with a lifejacket. Helmets are available if needed for, say, a cliff rescue.

Q. What do you like/dislike about your job?
A. I like working in a team of committed volunteers and being part of an organisation that save lives. I like spending time on the water and training. It is a way of being part of the local community. The only thing I dislike is feeling seasick, which is more common on the larger all-weather lifeboat due to the diesel fumes and rolling motion which is in part due to self-righting design of the lifeboat..

Q. What are the main challenges in your work?
A. Being called up at a moment’s notice to go to sea into a situation where we may not know until we get out there much about what we’re up against. Female crew are the minority, but this has never resulted in any difficulties.

Q. What are your long-term career plans?
A. I intend to remain a crew member for as long as I am fit and able. I’d like to work towards becoming a navigator, which takes time and experience.

Becky’s route to becoming a crew member:
• Spent time with friends who were volunteer crew members.
• Became volunteer press officer for lifeboat local station.
• Joined crew.
• Passed probation and assessed as competent.

Becky’s tips:
• Go and meet the crew local lifeboat station and find out more about what it involves to be crew member.
• Visit the station in summer and winter, you need to see what it’s like in bad weather too, so you can decided if you are still willing to volunteer.
• Be prepared for a challenging journey as a crew member, being part of the crew is a constant learning curve.  You will be called from your bed in the early hours of the morning, away from parties and family events but on a rescue you will find yourself amongst an inspirational group of people who are your fellow crew.