The RNLI's responsibilities demand medical expertise not only in emergency care – lifeboat crew and lifeguards are often first on scene – but also for the health of our staff and volunteers …

The panel of doctors providing this expertise is the RNLI’s Medical and Survival Sub-Committee. Comprising medical professionals with backgrounds from sea survival to occupational health, these volunteers share their knowledge to help save lives.

Outgoing Chair, Sir Roger Vickers, highlights two major achievements overseen by the committee. The first is the fitness standards for lifeboat crew and lifeguards, devised under the guidance of sea survival experts Surgeon Rear Admiral Frank Golden and Professor Mike Tipton. The other is the ratification of a maritime casualty care course designed by RNLI Clinical Lead and Coastal Training Manager Paul Savage.

The ideal successor to Sir Roger would be a practising doctor, preferably an expert in emergency care and a former lifeboat crew member. Cue: Committee Member Professor Charles Deakin, Consultant in Cardiac Anaesthesia and Critical Care at University Hospital Southampton.

‘He is exactly the right person since he’s in the unique position of being a distinguished practising anaesthetist and an emergency care doctor,’ says Sir Roger. ‘He served as Medical Adviser and a crew member at Calshot Lifeboat Station and is Divisional Medical Director of South Central Ambulance Service.’

Charles is clearly passionate about pre-hospital care. In addition to his demanding professional role, he volunteers as an emergency doctor to the Ambulance service – averaging 150 call outs a year. He received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2007.

‘I have always found pre-hospital care rewarding: patients are often very poorly, with complex problems and you have to diagnose quickly and accurately. Your actions can make a great difference to the patient.’

Charles is looking forward to working with the RNLI in developing the new Casualty Care course further. ‘Other organisations may be keen to use this course due to its novel approach. In the past most first aid courses required learning lots of symptoms for specific medical problems,’ explains Charles. ‘However, this training takes a “big sick, little sick” approach, a prioritising method offering easy-to-recall general principles and is therefore more effective.' At the core of the course are a set of acronyms and a pack of waterproof check cards (see page 16 to read about it in action).

A keen sailor from a nautical family, Charles laughs when asked how he manages voluntary work alongside his career.

‘A lot of people ask me that! The RNLI is a very worthwhile organisation. They’re also a great bunch of people – it’s a privilege working with them.’