Water safety charity launches new video to encourage everyone to #BeAMate this Christmas
With Christmas just around the corner and festive tipples in full swing, a national charity launches its annual winter campaign with sobering new video to encourage everyone to ‘Be a Mate’ this December.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is running its annual Don’t Drink and Drown campaign from 12-20December 2024, targeting festive partygoers to ‘Be a Mate’ and ensure their friends make their way home safely after a night out.
In the last six years, of those aged 18-25 who drowned, 46% lose their lives through a substance-related drowning, informing the charity’s efforts to target this age group through the campaign (WAID, 2018-2023).
Forming part of the December campaign, RLSS UK has released an impactful video which showcases the devastatingly real risks involved when people journey home alone after consuming alcohol – and the tragic reality for some. This scenario helps to reinforce the charity’s wider message of the campaign, urging those enjoying the festive period to be responsible for themselves and their friends if they have had too much to drink and help them to avoid dangerous routes and return home safely.
As work Christmas parties and gatherings with friends and family for the festive period take place across the country, RLSS UK fears that this could result in accidental fatalities as drunk people walk home near the water.
Matt Croxall, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “Our research indicates that among those aged 18-25 who lost their lives to accidental drowning, almost half had alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream.
“In a bid to reduce this worryingly high number of substance-related drownings around this time of year, we’ve launched our brand-new campaign video during the festive period, when people are more likely to get merry, and so the risk is significantly higher.
“The video seeks to highlight the importance of making all the right decisions – from not journeying home alone after consuming alcohol, actively looking out for friends, to taking routes home away from water – bringing to life the very harsh reality that this could happen to anyone.
“Our key message remains the same. We encourage everyone to look after their friends, to ‘Be a Mate’ and ensure that everyone gets home safely to their families this Christmas.”
RLSS UK wants to reinforce the message of safety in numbers, avoiding dangerous routes home near the water, and staying together to make sure everyone makes it home safe.
Matt continued: “We know that alcohol and drugs are known to lower inhibitions, which can lead to impaired judgment, and this is where we see people taking risks and getting themselves into trouble in and around water.
“We can’t stress enough the dangers of cold-water shock around this time of year and encourage everyone to partake in festivities, but to do so safely – and to stay safe and away from the water after drinking.
“After all, your presence is the greatest gift your loved ones could ask for this Christmas.”
For more information on the campaign and to support RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign this December, visit www.rlss.org.uk/dont-drink-and-drown where you can also download resources to spread the word and help keep your friends and family safe this winter.
