Deaf Students Teach Lifeguards Sign Language in Powerful Beach Safety Collaboration

What happens when young deaf students and local lifeguards come together? In Exmouth, Devon, the result is a powerful partnership aimed at making beaches safer—and more inclusive—for everyone.

Students from The Deaf Academy teamed up with RNLI lifeguards to share skills and knowledge, they taught the lifeguards key phrases in British Sign Language (BSL)—focused on water safety and emergencies—while the lifeguards shared vital tips to help the students stay safe at sea.

The collaboration wasn't just about learning signs. It was about breaking communication barriers that could make the difference between life and death in a water emergency.

“It’s been an incredible opportunity to learn some key BSL phrases which could be crucial to keeping beachgoers safe,” said Tim Treloar, RNLI water safety education manager. “These phrases will now be shared across our team, helping us connect better with the deaf community.”

For the Deaf Academy, the collaboration highlights a broader goal: building a world that doesn’t leave anyone out.

“This partnership is a great example of how communication should be accessible to all,” said Mark Stocks, community manager at the Academy. “It shows how individuals and organisations can become more deaf-aware and help create a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone.”

By working together, these students and lifeguards are setting a new standard for inclusion and public safety—one sign at a time.