Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat Station Staying Operational

---

Crew releases a video to cheer everyone up at this difficult time

PPE for Thames lifeboat crew. Picture: RNLI

The RNLI Lifeboat crews based at Chiswick Pier have remained operational during the current pandemic.

In the weeks since the start of the lockdown Chiswick RNLI lifeboat crews have been busy. They have rescued many people cut off by the tide, a suspected spinal injury after a fall, and some kayakers.

RNLI helmsman Andy Mayo said ‘People taking their permitted daily exercise have been caught out in several incidents. We have seen the Thames towpath busy like a sunny Bank Holiday every day of the week with walkers, joggers and cyclists. Some have been walking along the foreshore. We have had to rescue those who have been tempted to walk over to islands at low tide. The tide rises very rapidly especially in last week’s high spring tides. We have rescued many over the years who have got in trouble while going for a walk by the river not knowing that the Thames is tidal in London.’

The Thames lifeboat crews are changing their operating procedures to protect themselves so they can continue their lifesaving work. The crews have been split into nine teams, each doing a 24 hour shift. There is no mixing of crews or physical contact at changeover. This change in rostering means that if one team has to self-isolate another team can step in.

Crews on the coast who operate on pagers have also changed their procedures. Regular training has been suspended. Crews will only attend when there is a shout, and wait in their cars until selected.

The RNLI already provides its lifeboat crews with extensive PPE equipment. The crew always use protective gloves when handling casualties and wear helmets with full face visors. Crews are now equipped in addition with safety glasses and a FFP3 3000 series respirator mask. When dealing with casualties they will also wear fully a sealed drysuit with built in boots and the standard Gecko helmet with visor, torch and camera. Andy added ‘much thought has gone into how we can safely continue operating, our enhanced procedures should ensure we can continue to help people in trouble by the river’.

The current situation hasn't meant a loss of a sense of humour and the station has released 'a public information' video to raise spirits during the lockdown.

 

Chiswick RNLI lifeboat station is the second busiest in the UK and Ireland. Since The RNLI search and rescue service on the Thames started in 2002, Chiswick Lifeboat has attended over 3,500 incidents and rescued over 1,750 people. The RNLI is entirely funded by public donations.

Find Articles Like This Useful? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.

 

April 13, 2020