This is a piece by Gianna Saccomani of Teddington RNLI - and it was written before the recent dip in the weather!

Many of you may be forgiven for thinking that we have all suddenly moved to the Mediterranean climes of the South of France, such has been the increase in temperature.

The hot sunshine has changed our lives in the last few weeks, and especially in 'Teddington on Thames', as I like to call it!

Never before have so many waterborne vessels been seen out on the River Thames - a lady on a green crocodile inflatable, hundreds of stand up paddle boarders, to a 6m long pink unicorn and a 27m long barge carrying a rib similar in size to the two orange D class lifeboats we have at Teddington RNLI station.

They all have one thing in common - to enjoy the river during these glorious summer days and long balmy evenings.

However, there is also another thing they have in common - very few people were wearing any form of lifejacket or flotation device.

Cold water shock

Even when the thermometer says 34°C, the water temperature in the Thames can be as cold as 12°C and finding yourself unexpectedly in the water can lead to cold water shock.

Cold water shock is the body's involuntary response to being suddenly immersed into cold water of around 15°C or lower, and this will seriously affect your breathing and capability to move.

Float to live

Should you expectedly find yourself in the water, you should follow the advice of the RNLI's 'Float to Live' campaign which is a key message in the RNLI's national drowning prevention campaign, 'Respect the Water'.

It urges people to follow this potentially lifesaving advice if they find themselves in trouble in the water.

Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about – this can lead to breathing in water and drowning.

Instead, relax and float on your back, until you have regained control of your breathing. Only then should you call for help or swim to safety.

You may ask yourself why do we keep repeating these key water safety messages?

Because if just one person gets the message for the first time it could literally save their life if in a difficult situation in or around the water. Or if a friend or family member is in difficulty they can be advised accordingly before help arrives.

I'm delighted to say the RNLI's key messaging did save someone's life recently.

The RNLI's Float to Live Campaign saved the life of a 10-year-old boy in Scarborough a few weeks ago.

The boy had been reported missing in the water after being swept across the bay by the tide and the wind.

When the volunteer crew from Scarborough RNLI Lifeboat Station found him, he was floating on his back, with his arms and legs spread, shouting for help.

The crew said they had been told that he'd been watching lifeboat rescues on the BBC documentary Saving Lives at Sea and had followed the advice given on the show.

Scarborough RNLI coxswain Lee Marton said: "We're very much in awe of this incredible lad, who managed to remain calm and follow safety advice to the letter in terrifying and stressful circumstances. Had he not, the outcome might have been very different."

The RNLI's Float to live campaign also saved a man's life last summer in the River Thames in Central London.

The man, who had been at a local pub in Wapping, had decided to go for a swim in the river but quickly found himself overcome by the strong currents and suffering from cold water shock.

With his muscles cramping and on the verge of drowning, he recalled seeing an RNLI poster urging people who find themselves in difficulty in the water to float on their backs until they are able to regain control of their breathing.

When the man was rescued by Tower RNLI volunteer Lifeboat crew, based near Waterloo Bridge, he had been lying on his back in the water in the classic 'star shape' recommended by the Float to Live campaign.

Teddington RNLI Lifeboat Station, which is located on the River Thames opposite Teddington Lock, has been able to continue to respond to calls from the Coastguard to help people in trouble on the River Thames during the Covid 19 pandemic, using appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).

The station is crewed entirely by volunteers on call 24/7.

Finally, if you see someone in trouble in the water, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard. Don't assume someone else has called for help.

Many thanks to Gianna who contributed this piece for Richmond Nub News.

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