Lough Swilly RNLI Crew Take Part in Casualty Care Training Exercise
- Pat Nolan
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Friday 22 May 2026
The volunteer crew at Lough Swilly RNLI recently spent a Sunday morning undertaking scenario-based casualty care training designed to prepare them for responding to medical emergencies in challenging maritime environments.
The practical exercise allowed crew members to work through realistic casualty scenarios, helping volunteers build confidence and gain valuable hands-on experience in delivering life-saving care at sea and along the coastline.
RNLI casualty care training equips volunteer crews with intensive, high-level first aid skills tailored specifically for maritime incidents. Going beyond standard first aid, the training focuses on practical scenarios including CPR, trauma management, and cold-water injuries, while using specialised RNLI check cards to ensure methodical and effective casualty care.
The session was designed to support volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds, enabling them to deliver immediate and effective treatment in demanding conditions. The scenario-based exercises also reinforced learning from the certified casualty care training course, which takes place at the lifeboat station every three years.
By taking part in practical simulations, crew members had the opportunity to refresh their skills using the RNLI’s step-by-step casualty care check cards. The exercises also gave newer volunteers valuable insight into how medical kits and equipment are used during incidents, helping prepare them for the certified Casualty Care course scheduled to take place at Lough Swilly RNLI this autumn.
Joe Joyce, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Swilly RNLI, said:
“When RNLI crews reach a casualty at sea or along the coastline, they often become the first medical responders on scene. Casualty Care training ensures that every RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew member can deliver immediate, effective treatment during the vital minutes or hours before an ambulance, coastguard helicopter, or other emergency service arrives.”
During the training morning, the volunteer crew worked through three separate casualty scenarios before concluding the session with a detailed debrief, allowing crew members to share learning and experiences from each exercise.
