Local rescue services get set for summer.

Cornwall Air Ambulance dropped into the first of a series of training days with the Royal National Lifesaving Institution this week, as their lifeguards for the 2009 season go through their paces before the forecasted busy summer gets underway.

Newquay Sports centre and Wadebridge Rugby Club have already played host to the helicopter, with Perranporth and Hayle Rugby clubs also kindly giving permission and making their pitches available.

The big idea behind the sessions, is to help both the paramedics on board the helicopter and the lifeguards on the beach work closely together, so that anyone involved in dealing with an emergency on the beach can do the very best for the patient, and keep the general public safe at the same time.

Paula Hichens from Cornwall Air Ambulance charity head quarters said, "this joined up approach is designed to improve patient care and safety of all those around at the time. Sometimes the beaches are crowded, often there are a lot of interested onlookers. It’s a real challenge for the RNLI lifeguards, who have to maintain safety around the helicopter and keep their watchful eye on everyone who is still enjoying the water".

Air Ambulance paramedic Mark Fuszard who has led the initiative to bring the helicopter to these training sessions said "having a greater understanding of how we each work can only be a good thing. We have all learned a lot, and if that results in just one extra life saved this summer, it will all be worth it".

The joint training sessions included workshops on safety around the aircraft while the rotors are turning, landing and take off space, radio communications, together with treating and loading sick and injured patients into the helicopter, and in week one over 50 experienced and new lifeguards have taken part in training events.

Last year the Cornwall Air Ambulance visited Polzeath beach to help the RNLI lifeguards make a film to support their Life first campaign, and often the helicopter crew depend on the lifeguards to assist the whole process of air lifting a patient off the popular beaches.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor for north Cornwall Craig Bowley says: ‘These training sessions are invaluable. Most of our returning guards will have dealt with a situation involving the Air Ambulance on their beach in previous seasons. However this is the first time we have done specific pre-season training. It helps both the lifeguards and the paramedics familarise themselves with each others needs and proceedures, and enables them all to put names to faces. This means that when they need to work together over the summer, it will be a smoother process inwhich the casualty, and the other beach user’s safety will be maintained.’

The Cornwall Air Ambulance attended 50 of the most serious incidents around Cornwall’s coastline in 2008, such as trauma associated with falling from the cliff, or drowning incidents, airlifting patients to both Treliske and Derriford hospitals. The RNLI lifeguards dealt with 4.470 incidents, assisted 5,283 people and saved 16 lives on beaches in Cornwall in the same year.