Poole Lifeboats and Sandbanks RNLI Lifeguards join forces in training scenario

The scenario was jointly set up by Poole Lifeboat Station and the Sandbanks Lifeguards and was overseen by the stations four volunteer Lifeboat Medical Advisors (LMA’s).

The scenario unfolded when a jetski and rib collided just off Sandbanks beach. The rib raised the alarm which saw lifeboat crews and lifeguards leap into action.

Due to the location the lifeguards arrived at the casualty quickly, a lifeguard on a rescue board and two lifeguards on the rescue water craft (RWC).

As the first two casualties were being taken ashore, one requiring CPR the lifeboat crew boarded the rib to find a further injured casualty. Whilst the casualty care assessment was taking place the D class conducted a quick search of the area to ensure nobody else was in the water and took the jetski to safer water and the Atlantic passed a tow to the rib.

In the scenario ambulances had already been requested to Sandbanks beach so the final casualty was transferred by Poole D class to the beach.

By this point all three casualties were being given casualty care treatment by Lifeguards or Lifeboat crew.

Helm Alex Evans said ‘it’s always a great opportunity to train with our colleagues on the beach. Hopefully a scenario like this doesn’t happen but it is all good practice’.

After the hot de-brief on the beach, Matt Thomas, one of the four LMA’s said ‘Todays exercise showed how efficiently our volunteer crews and lifeguards can care for casualties together. The Casualty Care training they get was put into practice in a way that impress all four LMA’s observing’.

As summer approaches the RNLI are urging those going to the coast or out to sea to ‘Respect The Water’. RNLI safety advice can be found here for a range of activities: https://rnli.org/safety

For more information please telephone Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07887 855073 - [email protected] or Dave Riley, National Media Officer on 07795 015042 - [email protected] or contact RNLI Newsdesk on 01202 336789

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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