Working with the RNLI

Most divers aim to be self sufficient, carrying spares, able to effect running repairs and with a wide skill set that covers boat handling, dive planning and responses to emergencies.  But sometimes there are situations in which outside help is required and we look to organisations such as the coastguard or the RNLI to assist. A quick peruse through the latest BSAC Incident Report reveals how often we rely on these services, and yet in our normal diving activities we probably don’t even consider them beyond noting the phone numbers on the dive management plan.

I’ve recently spent a thoroughly entertaining and informative evening with one of our local lifeboat stations. Following an incident last year, it had become obvious to both myself and the Lifeboat Operations Manager that there were some developing gaps in the understanding of their crew regarding dive kit and dive practises. So we set out to remedy that and the first step was to take some kit in for a bit of a theory session. Some of the older crew members had dived in the past, but many of the newer crew hadn’t. Presumably these were the guys we’d overheard saying “There’s no way you’d get me diving, it kills people.” It wasn’t hard to spot the need for some reciprocal training!

Accompanied by one of my assistant instructors, we lugged scuba kit and a rebreather up the staircase into the Lifeboat Station training room. Next time I will definitely remember to take my trim weights out of my Evolution! First things first though; a cup of tea and a chance to say hello. I haven’t met a lifeboat crew yet who didn’t revolve around tea. Once we got started, we talked through the kit, focusing on how understanding removing the equipment safely would aid the recovery of a casualty onto their Atlantic 85 RIB. Even the crew who had already had some diving experience got stuck into trying the different clips and releases. The big learning curve came when we looked at the rebreather. The growing number of rebreather divers throughout the UK means rescue services are now much more likely to encounter a rebreather unit on a casualty. We had a great discussion on some of the different risks that rebreathers can expose divers to, not just the 3Hs (hyperoxia, hypoxia and hypercapnia ) but also non freezing cold injuries from extended dive times. There were some lively discussions and great questions.

But our visit wasn’t just about the kit, we also took copies of the Incident report, and we talked about the numbers of incidents a year, and even read through some of the reports.  We took the British Diving Safety Group Accident flowchart with us and explained what actions divers would be trained to take. The big surprise came when I challenged their perception about diving as a dangerous sport, showing how few fatal incidents actually occur each year. I’ve given them the link to the BSAC website to access the other Incident reports too, and I know that as I left they were already searching the website.

There is more to come of course. The Operations Manager and I have set up a couple of joint training sessions to give the crew some practical experience. All my Dive Leader trainees are going to take part, and I’ll go through the Practical Rescue Management theory with them in advance. We are planning to set various scenarios that allow both groups to develop their skills and understanding. What a superb learning opportunity and a great way to build a relationship with the crew that we hope we will never actually need to call out.  In fact, I’d love to be in the position of only calling them so see if they want a pint after we’ve finished (although I guarantee they will be trying to make more tea!).
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During the winter months when the weather is reducing the number of dive opportunities, this seems like a good way to arrange some training, with both our instructors and Dive Leader trainees benefitting. Maybe DOs and TOs should be actively seeking to partner an RNLI station and foster just this sort of relationship? I wouldn’t go so far as to suggest ‘twinning’ as I suspect that any dive club advertising that it is ‘twinned’ with a lifeboat station would suffer a drop in recruitment! But I am convinced that a closer relationship between divers and the rescue service personnel can only be a good thing. I know these links exist at higher levels, isn’t it time the ground level guys were involved too? Dive safe!