Portsmouth RNLI hosts multi-agency exercise
Volunteer crew from Portsmouth RNLI joined colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and Langstone Harbourmaster for a large-scale simulated medical emergency exercise in Langstone Harbour this week.
The training scenario involved a simulated explosion aboard a vessel alongside a pontoon, resulting in multiple casualties requiring urgent medical treatment and rescue.
The Langstone Harbourmaster was first on scene and immediately began assessing casualties and coordinating the initial response. Portsmouth RNLI then launched its D-class lifeboat with four volunteer crew members onboard to assist.
Upon arrival, RNLI crew administered initial casualty care to those involved and commenced Basic Life Support (BLS) on a training dummy representing a casualty in cardiac arrest.
Shortly afterwards, crews from SCAS arrived on scene and continued treatment of all casualties, including advanced life support (ALS) procedures for the critically injured patient and pain relief drugs to stabilise other casualties.
The realistic training exercise lasted approximately two hours and concluded with a full multi-agency debrief, allowing all organisations involved to review performance, discuss learning points, and identify opportunities for continued joint working and future improvements.
Following the exercise, crews from all agencies also had the opportunity to review each other’s equipment and medical kits, helping improve understanding of the operational capabilities, resources and procedures available to each service during a real-life incident.
Joe Earley, Ambulance Associate Practitioner with SCAS and volunteer crew member at Portsmouth RNLI, said:
“Exercises like this are incredibly valuable because they allow all agencies to work together in a realistic environment and practise how we would respond during a genuine emergency. The communication and teamwork between the Harbourmaster, RNLI crews and ambulance service was excellent throughout, and every exercise gives us important learning points that help improve future responses and ultimately benefit casualty care.”
Portsmouth RNLI regularly trains alongside partner emergency services to ensure crews remain prepared to respond quickly and effectively to incidents on the water.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Abi Hinton, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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