MISSIONMUNCHIES: LIFESAVING GRUB!
Mission munchies
SAVING LIVES IS THIRSTY WORK AND IF YOU’RE OUT AT SEA OR ON THE BEACH FOR HOURS IT’S HUNGRY WORK TOO DO LIFESAVERS PACK BISCUITS ALONG WITH THEIR BRAVERY? OR STASH SOME STAMINA-BOOSTING SNACKS? WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS (AND WAS) ON THE MENU
Good grub
When our all-weather lifeboat crews launch into the unknown, they’re never sure when they’ll be back. Instant porridge, sweets and Pot Noodles keep them going. But back in the day, sailors in the navy weren’t so lucky The teeth-breaking biscuits they were given were so hard that sometimes they would have to suck on them instead In the days before choc-chip, it wasn’t unusual to find a grub in your grub (white, black-headed beetle worms inside your cookie) Mmmmmm
Hard cheese
One Halloween, after Padstow Coxswain Patch Harvey and his lifeboat crew helped to rescue eight French sailors from scary conditions, Patch found the damaged yacht’s fridge full of cheese. Helpfully, he took the cheese back to the lifeboat station for safekeeping The next day, w th no sign of the French crew, who had been airlifted to hosp tal, Patch and his crew tucked in – just as two of the French sailors arrived at the station to say ‘merci’. Oh crackers!
Sailor's tea
As any lifeboat crew member, lifeguard or rescuee will tell you, a hot cuppa does wonders when you’re wet and bedraggled But back in the 18th century, seafarers had a different traditional drink On long voyages, water conta ned bacteria and sometimes algae, so rum was added to make it safe to drink. This mix was known as grog, after Old Grog – the nickname of Adm ral Vernon, boss of the British Navy Next time you hear someone say they’re ‘a bit groggy’, you know where it comes from
Just heat
At sea, the only snacks about are what you take with you. RNLI crews (like explorers and other windswept types) have been known to rely on a b t of magic at mealtime Piercing specially made cans of food, crew would set off someth ng called an exothermic reaction – a fancy term for when water mixes w th limestone –that would heat up the food! What invention would you come up with to stop stomachs rumbling? A McSailThru? Drone-delivered doughnuts? Launcheroo? See page 15 to find out how to send in your ideas
It's no picnic
All-weather lifeboat crews can at least shelter in the wheelhouse. But inshore lifeboat crews are exposed to the elements and sometimes n need of a pick-me-up When both boats are called into action for the same rescue, the all-weather crew will often pass some treats to the inshore crew ‘A chocolate bar soon perks them up,’ says Padstow Coxswain R chard Pitman. The volunteers also carry glucose in their first aid kit, in case the person they rescue is d abetic and in need of a boost themselves
