Teddington RNLI volunteer crews train every week but on Tuesday, 21 October, training took place with the crew of the Richmond Royale, one of private boat company Turks Launches' passenger boats.

A scenario was developed to test the skills of RNLI and Turks Launches crews and ensure that they were up to date on casualty care.

The fictional incident involved a passenger suffering a medical emergency on the Richmond Royale which had experienced engine failure downstream of Kingston. As a result, both Teddington RNLI lifeboats were called out to assist the casualty and the crew of the passenger boat.

Last week's training took place on Turks Launches' Richmond Royale (Credit: Teddington RNLI)

A wide range of skills of RNLI volunteers were called upon to assess and treat a fictional passenger who was suffering a cardiac arrest, before evacuating them to a waiting ambulance using a PS1 collapsible stretcher.

Members of the Teddington RNLI lifeboat station were recruited to play the parts of bystanders, passengers and a friend of the passengers, ensuring that all of the RNLI crew members were fully put through their paces and their expertise in caring for casualties was brought to the fore.

The PS1 stretcher was specifically developed for use in the inflatable 'D Class' lifeboats used by Teddington RNLI by fellow Tower lifeboat station crew, Paul Savage OBE. Previously Clinical Lead for the RNLI, he recognised the need for a roll-up stretcher that could be stored and accessed easily on a small open boat.

Matt Allchurch, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Teddington RNLI said: "Regular training exercises ensure that our volunteer crew's skills are up to date and at their very best.

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"Working with other river users and partners is vital in being ready for all eventualities that could arise on the river. Particular thanks go to Nick Tudor, general manager of Turks Launches and his skilled crew."