Water Safety Scotland (WSS) has launched its groundbreaking Drowning and Incident Review (DIR) Dashboard, providing an unprecedented tool to analyse and prevent water-related fatalities in Scotland.
The DIR, developed by RoSPA and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, reviews all accidental drownings in Scotland and offers detailed data to guide local and national prevention efforts.
The new DIR Dashboard will allow stakeholders to access vital data on drowning incidents, contributory factors, and post-incident measures. This tool will significantly enhance Scotland’s ability to take a targeted approach to preventing water emergencies.
Carlene McAvoy, Founder of Water Safety Scotland and DIR co-author, said:
“The DIR enables us to take a focused approach to preventing water-based fatalities with data that was never previously available before in Scotland.
“The new DIR Dashboard will provide even greater access to critical information, allowing us to better understand and address the causes of drowning. This will be particularly useful for both national and local efforts in prevention”.
The DIR Dashboard offers stakeholders access to comprehensive drowning data, helping to inform water safety measures and prevention strategies. By visualising and analysing key factors, the tool will support both local and national efforts to reduce water-related deaths.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: “The Procurator Fiscal is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, accidental, or unexplained deaths in Scotland.
“The purpose of each investigation is to establish the circumstances and cause of the death and to identify any preventable dangers to life and the safety of the public.
“We welcome the introduction of the Drowning and Incident (DIR) Dashboard and will continue to support this process, and any other measures intended to reduce the numbers of accidental drownings in Scotland.”
Station Commander James Sullivan, SFRS’ Lead Officer for Water Safety Scotland and Co-author of DIR said: “DIR is a unique process that provides an opportunity to understand contributory factors and events leading up to a water emergency that enables targeted prevention efforts across Scotland.
“DIR is the result of innovative and collaborative working that would not have been possible without the commitment and influence of Water Safety Scotland’s members.”
The DIR Dashboard goes live today, offering users an accessible platform for viewing data on drowning incidents and preventative measures. More information is available via the Water Safety Scotland website.
