British Divers Marine Life Rescue (how to help!)
British Divers Marine Life Rescue is our national charity of wonderful volunteer marine mammal medics, who are on the other end of the phone, if you find a stranded, injured or orphaned marine creature – dolphin, seal, turtle, whale or shark.
The website has heaps of advice on how to help (this can be roughly condensed into):
- Don’t spook anything (like seal pups) as they could drown or freeze in the sea
- Call them (the police, RSCPA or coastguard can put you through too)
- Give information and location on what’s wrong
- Let them guide you through what to do, until help arrives.
In most cases, there is a lot you can do, but it’s important to follow the advice. For instance, never pour water into a whale’s blowhole (this is like our nostrils, and can stop them breathing).
BDMLR has a nationwide team across the UK (and channel islands) of highly-trained volunteers who can come out and help all creatures.
How to help BDMLR
It’s obvious really. Don’t drop litter on the beach, and leave all marine creatures in peace. Never use jet skis (these drive wedges to separate mothers and their young, as well as causing injuries and noise pollution.
The charity has recently helped to launch the nationwide Give Seals Space campaign (to ask the government to change its mind about not including seals under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to give them protection).
Fancy becoming a marine medic yourself?
All you have to do is look up upcoming courses. You then have to be on call and receive a certificate. You need a smartphone to be added to the volunteer list, to download the app for rescue notifications.
The charity is also very keen for local vets and vet nurses to attend their courses, as that’s more support to help local marine creatures, especially if they need to be transferred locally to a medical facility.
Apparently the ‘dummy whales’ are so lifelike, that willing people on the beach, often rush over to help! On a serious note, that means that everyone cares. So get involved if you live near a beach, and be prepared to be a local marine creature hero, if the need arises!
