EMERGENCY WHAT?
STEVE WEINMAN, EDITOR

IT'S DANGEROUS TO OVER-ESTIMATE THE INTELLIGENCE of the general public (I exempt divers from that, naturally, so feel free to over-estimate the intelligence of divers).
The latest survey to boggle my mind is another carried out on behalf of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, which last year, as you may recall, revealed that there seemed to be about three times more active divers in the UK than anyone had suspected before.
But it seems that a frightening number of people struggle to identify the emergency services. Asked which they could name, 89% of the 2000-person sample came up with Ambulance (applause), 88% Police and only 84% that relatively shadowy organisation, the Fire Service.
Good news for the Coastguard was that word is slowly getting around - the name rang a bell with 58% of people this time, which was 80 more individuals than the previous year.
Only 18% of those questioned considered the RNLI an emergency service, and 7% suggested the AA. They may have been thinking of Alcoholics Anonymous, of course.
(No wonder the Automobile Association, which has probably confused people still further by claiming to be the fourth emergency service, is currently having to run so many TV ads. Still, it will be pleased that the RAC and Green Flag didn't get a look in.)
You can imagine the scene as you wash up on the beach after a shore dive that went wrong, to be discovered by members of the twilight minority. "Who shall we call?"
"Ambulance?"
"What's that?"
Just over half the people questioned said they would contact the Coastguard if they saw someone in trouble at sea, and another 24% said they would dial 999.
Fair enough, but what would the other 500 or so folk do? Presumably just walk on, wracking their brains about the number to call, or simply not bothering. Everyone now has a mobile phone with an impressive array of ring-tones. If only everyone knew how to use it on those occasions when it might actually be useful.
The MCA diplomatically viewed the glass as half-full. Its chief executive was pleased to see an increase in early reporting of incidents and in the number of people being rescued more quickly.
And it's to be hoped that the BBC's Seaside Rescue is helping to boost awareness of the Coastguard - after all, you barely exist today unless you feature on a reality show.
Divers shouldn't worry too much, of course. You can be reasonably certain that your boat or shore cover will have heard of the Coastguard and other emergency services.
But don't assume that everyone you meet is as well-informed. If you can do so without causing offence, spread the word!