Tag: drowning

Be a Mate this Christmas

Your Presence is worth more than presents, charity says

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is running its annual Don’t Drink and Drown campaign this week – December, 11-17 – to encourage festive partygoers to Be a Mate and ensure their friends make their way home safely after a night out. 

The campaign targets individuals to be responsible for their friends if they have had too much to drink; helping them to return home safely. As work Christmas parties and gatherings with friends and family for the festive period begin to take place, the charity fears that this could result in accidental fatalities as people walk home near the water. 

On average 73 people lose their lives each year through a substance-related drowning, this is more than a quarter (29%) of UK annual accidental drowning fatalities.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said, “Research indicates that among those aged 16-25 who lost their lives to accidental drowning, 44% had alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream.

WAs well as this 81% weren’t with friends at the time of drowning, which is why our key message is ‘Be a Mate’ to encourage everyone to look after their friends and ensure that everyone gets home safely to their families this Christmas. 

“We know that alcohol and drugs have a number of different effects on the body including lowering inhibitions, which leads to impaired judgment, and this is where we see people taking risks and getting themselves into trouble in and around water.

“In line with this, the data also reveals that when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, accidental drowning victims are much more likely to have unintentionally fallen into the water; 55% compared to 36% for those who were not under the influence.”

Further analysis among alcohol/drug related drownings highlighted that, where known, over half of drug and alcohol related drownings take place between 11pm and 5am, the time which many people may be walking home from nights out. RLSS UK wants to reinforce the message of safety in numbers, be a mate, and stay together to make sure everyone makes it home safe. 

Lee said: “We have seen cases where people walk home after a night out, and for various reasons get too close to the edge and end up in the water.

“At this time of year, the water is colder than it looks and cold water shock is a significant factor, and paired with alcohol numbing senses, limiting muscle ability and slowing down reactions, it makes it extremely difficult to be able to swim and self-rescue.

“As we see mainly young men, walking home alone, sadly in these cases there is nobody around to help, we see nights out turn into tragedies. We are encouraging everyone to remember that their presence with their family and friends this Christmas is worth much more than presents, so stay safe and stay away from the water after drinking.” 

For further detail on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign 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.

New report shows more than a classroom of children died from accidental drowning in 2022

An event at Westminster last month saw the launch of the inaugural National Drowning Report from the Water Safety All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) authored by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), and supported by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF). 

The report highlighted some shocking statistics relating to the number of accidental fatalities in 2022, with a section of the report focusing on child drownings. 

The report showed that in 2022, 35 children died from accidental drowning, the equivalent of more than a classroom of children. Comparing this to the 5-year average, there was a huge 46% increase in the number of accidental fatalities amongst children in 2022.

The report documents that in 2022, 226 people lost their lives to accidental drowning, with 83% of those being male. 

We have already seen a number of people tragically lose their lives to accidental drowning in 2023 and the report looks to provide recommendations for the UK Government to how this can change. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, commented “We know that for anyone to drown is a complete tragedy, but when we see the amount of children drowning increasing by 46% we know that things need to change urgently. 

“Within the report, we have worked with various organisations to put forwards a number of key recommendations for the UK Government to enable all young people to have the opportunity to learn about water safety. 

“We want the UK Government to find innovative solutions to better deliver school swimming; mandate that every child has a class-based water safety lesson at each key stage; and to invest in initiatives to address the increase in child drowning fatalities.

“Drowning, for the large part, is highly preventable. Education and supervision in particular reduce the likelihood of an incident turning into a sudden and devastating tragedy.

“We have been asking the question of the UK Government for many years as to why classroom-based water safety is not on the curriculum.

“We recognise that getting all our children in the water is critical but teaching water safety in the classroom removes existing barriers and gives every child an understanding of safety, risk, and the chance to learn how to stay safe in and around the water, no matter their background.”

National-Drowning-Report-UK-2022Download

“This report is a step in the right direction to give MPs and the UK Government the facts and statistics they need to make a change to prevent losing even more children to accidental drowning. We at RLSS UK will work with our partners and the National Water Safety Forum to endeavor to deliver the necessary change.”

The launch of the report coincided with RLSS UK’s annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign where the charity was able to educate over 1.8million children through its free resources to schools and leisure centres. 

To view the report visit the RLSS UK website.

Charity urges people to #BeAMate during World Cup and party season

The Royal Lifesaving Society UK (RLSS UK) has this year extended its annual Don’t Drink and Drown campaign to cover the FIFA World Cup tournament. Don’t Drink and Drown begins on Monday 21 November and will run until 18 December.

The campaign usually targets those who will be enjoying the festive period with their friends and family but with the home nations of England and Wales both qualifying for the tournament, the charity wants to encourage everyone who is heading out this winter to take extra care. 

Don’t Drink and Drown is RLSS UK’s national campaign that encourages smart decision making whilst being drunk and the risks of drowning if near water. It particularly targets individuals to be responsible for their friends if they have had too much to drink; #BeAMate and help them to return home safely.

On average, each year 80 people lose their lives through substance-related drowning and the charity fears that a tournament such as this, at this time of year, may increase those tragic incidents.

Whether heading to the pub to watch a game, going to a work party, having a reunion with friends, or arranging a family gathering, the charity wants to ensure that everyone has the right knowledge around water safety, and chooses a route home away from the water after drinking. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said, “This is the first time that the world cup will have been held during our winter time, so it will be a completely different experience to what we have been used to in previous tournaments, when we may have seen people in pub beer gardens, watching the games on a big screen in the summer sun. 

“This timing, paired with the celebrations around Christmas, raises concerns around water safety. We want to ensure that everyone enjoys the tournament and the festive period, but they are also able to stay safe around the various waterways on their routes home.”

Lee added: “We have prepared lots of messaging which will be shared during the four weeks of the campaign, encouraging everyone to take care, not only of themselves, but of their friends, whilst out drinking.

We would like to encourage everyone to share these messages with their friends and family, so we can ensure that we equip as many people as possible with the right knowledge around water safety.”

With alcohol impairing our judgements, limiting muscle ability, slowing down reactions and numbing our senses, this can mean that even for strong swimmers, entering the water after drinking can be extremely dangerous.

Statistics show that 45% of drownings of those aged 16-25 cited alcohol or drugs and where known, over half of alcohol/drug related drownings occurred between 11pm and 5am, which is five times higher than those that weren’t alcohol/drug related. (WAID, 2021)

RLSS UK research also shows that three in four of people who drowned were not with someone they knew when they drowned; this is why one of the charity’s key messages is to be a mate and ensure that your friends get home safely, stick together and find a route home away from the water.

For further detail on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign 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.

Lifesaving Summer with RLSS UK and B.O.S.S

To mark the end of a lifesaving summer, the Black Owned Swim School (B.O.S.S) has held two events to give young people the opportunity to enjoy water safely by having their first dip in open water. 

The events were held at lakes in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and Stoke Newington, London and the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) was proud to help support by offering open water coaching and safety tips ahead of the swims. 

National charity RLSS UK aims to reach as many people as possible to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy water safely, no matter their background. The charity has partnered with charitable organisation B.O.S.S who aim to work to prevent drowning in the most vulnerable, at risk communities in aquatics. 

During the summer months, young people from Birmingham and London were able to head to their local pools to take part in swimming and lifesaving sessions to give them the skills needed to enjoy water safely thanks to B.O.S.S and RLSS UK.

Annalize Butler is the owner and founder of B.O.S.S and has been teaching swimming for 15 years, and was the driving force behind the lifesaving summer events. 

Annalize said: “I work in an environment where I might be the only black person on the poolside within the whole city. Sources show that in England only 2% of regular swimmers are from the black community.

“By working with organisations such as RLSS UK, we can actively change the way people think about swimming. B.O.S.S is about reconnecting people with the water in an effortless and exciting way, bringing new opportunities to engage an under-represented audience and level up in the aquatics industry. 

“It is scary how many people are affected by drowning in the black community, and it is my mission to make my community water safe.”

The lifesaving summer events have been a great success, involving many young people and equipping them with skills and knowledge around the water. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “Providing young people with the opportunity to get into a swimming pool and not only to learn to swim, but to learn vital lifesaving skills is something that should be available to all children. 

“We work with organisations such as B.O.S.S to reach and build communities from under-represented groups with limited access and opportunities in swimming. Events like lifesaving summer are a fantastic way to get young people involved with swimming and lifesaving, and change attitudes to water to ensure they can safely enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.” 

“The long term goal is to light the pathway for young people to represent their communities through the aquatics workforce. We want more young people from ethnically diverse communities taking up the personal opportunity to lifeguard our water, creating spaces where our diverse communities feel they can be safe and welcomed.”

The lifesaving summer sessions were delivered by experts in water safety and targeted those aged 10 and over and their families to educate them on how to stay safe in the water and in turn reduce the number of drownings that are usually seen during the summer months. 

The sessions were also delivered in tribute to 15 year old Thandolwethu Ndlovu, who drowned in Derbyshire in 2021.

The first event was held at West Reservoir in Stoke Newington, London on 1st September and targeted local residents as well as young teenagers who are unlikely to have access to swimming lessons in their local leisure centres, and their parents. 

Many of the swimmers had taken part in the sessions during the summer and during the event at West Reservoir they were able to take on a 50m challenge and put the skills they had learnt over the summer to the test. They were also able to try their hand at kayaking. 

The second event was held in Tamworth, Staffordshire on 3rd September at Cliff Lakes Aquapark which has a number of outdoor swimming lanes, open water swimming opportunities, as well as the aqua park. The event saw a number of young people in attendance and they were able to make exclusive use of the 50m lanes for their open water swimming challenge. 

B.O.S.S has been working with the young Birmingham swimmers throughout the summer, teaching them to swim as well as teaching them vital lifesaving skills and the event was a perfect opportunity for them to put their new skills to the test. 

All attendees were able to learn more about water safety from an RLSS UK qualified trainer, to ensure they had the right knowledge before getting in the water. Whilst the children were in the water, parents and supervisors were able to proudly watch whilst also learning about lifesaving themselves. 

Both events were enjoyed by all involved with young children, teenagers and adults taking part who now have the skills and knowledge to stay safe in, on and around water.

Royal Life Saving Society UK’s #DontDrinkandDrown campaign targets students heading to university

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) annual week long Don’t Drink and Drown campaign launches on 12th September, aiming to get the message across about water safety as thousands of students head off to start their first year at university. 

In a sample of UK accidental drowning cases analysed in detail by RLSS UK, at least half of those aged 16-25 who lost their life were students.  As a result, the charity is urging students to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, especially if there is a body of water within the town or city they are moving to. 

3 in 4 of these accidental drowning victims were alone . The campaign aims to speak to students and encourage them to, after a night out, be responsible for their friends, be a mate, and ensure they return home safely. 

As fresher’s events take place across the UK in September, many students will be heading to bars and clubs to celebrate the start of their university adventure, and this is where RLSS UK fears tragedies may occur.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “We have seen tragic stories in the past where students have been excited for a new adventure in a new city and should have been enjoying their first few weeks at university but sadly their night did not end how it should have. 

“45% of accidental drownings among 16-25 year olds in the last 5 years cited alcohol and/or drugs; we know that alcohol and drugs have a number of different effects on the body including lowering inhibitions, which leads to impaired judgment, and this is where we see people taking risks and getting themselves into trouble in, on and around water.”

In line with this, the data also reveals that when under the influence of alcohol or drugs, accidental drowning victims are much more likely to have unintentionally fallen into the water; 55% compared to 36% for those who were not under the influence.

Lee continued: “We are encouraging students to get to know their new surroundings and if they have a river, canal or other body of water in the city or town that they have moved to, then ensure that the route home after a night out is one which steers clear of the water.” 

Further analysis among this group highlighted that, where known, over half of drug and alcohol related drownings take place between 11pm and 5am, the time in which students may be walking home from nights out.

RLSS UK wants to reinforce the message of safety in numbers, be a mate, and stick together to make sure everyone makes it home safe. 

Lee said: “Unfortunately in recent years we have seen cases of young people walking home after a night of drinking, and for various reasons getting too close to the edge and ending up in the water.

“At this time of year the water is colder than it looks and cold water shock is a significant factor, and paired with alcohol numbing senses, limiting muscle ability and slowing down reactions, it makes it extremely difficult to be able to swim and self-rescue.

“As we see, mainly young men, walking home alone, sadly in these cases there is nobody around to help we see nights out turn into tragedies.” 

For more information on the campaign and to support RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign this September visit www.rlss.org.uk/dont-drink-and-drown.

Weather is warming up – get ahead and keep it fun not fatal

With the weather warming up and more people planning to head to the water, especially with the impending bank holiday, now is the time to ensure families can stay safe and keep it fun not fatal.

The warmer weather usually comes with more reports of rescues taking place from the water as people attempt to cool off, or tragically reports of drownings for those unable to be rescued. 

National charity and leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding training across the UK and Ireland, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), is urging people to get summer ready by brushing up on their water safety skills and knowledge. 

With over 400 people dying each year in the UK and Ireland from accidental drowning, it’s clear that it’s a topic that needs more attention. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months. 

“We have seen a rise in the number of drownings over the last few years, with peaks during the summer. In July 2021, there were 49 accidental drowning fatalities in the space of just two weeks in the UK, and we know that with the right water safety knowledge, accidental drownings are avoidable. 

“We want to ensure that everyone can enjoy their summer break and enjoy being in or around water but be safe in the knowledge that they, and their children, have the skills and understanding about water safety, which could potentially save a life.  Every life is worth saving.”

Drowning is not just a topic that needs attention for those who take part in water-based activities either, evidence shows that one in two people who accidentally drown never intended to enter the water and in 2020 evidence from the National Water Safety Forum showed that 45% of accidental drownings took place when people were taking part in everyday activities.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on their website for children, young people and parents and are holding their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign in June. The campaign will take place between 18th-25th June and aims to equip everyone across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety. 

Lee Heard continued: “This year for Drowning Prevention Week we are aiming to educate more young people than ever about water safety and give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water. 

“We have a range of free educational resources available on the RLSS UK website, including lesson plans for schools and resources for parents. 

“In a recent survey, over 55% of parents said they would not be confident their child would know what to do if they fell into open water; this is something we want to change. 

“Drowning Prevention Week brings the focus of water safety to people’s minds, giving everyone the opportunity to be equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge to be summer ready when it comes to being safe in and around water when the warmer weather is here.”

With many families opting for staycations and heading to the coastlines and waterways for holidays in recent times, having an understanding of what to do if you find yourself or someone else in trouble in the water is more important than ever. 

Lee Heard added: “If you or someone else finds themselves in difficulty in the water, it’s vital to remember the Water Safety Code: whenever you are around water you should stop and think to assess your surroundings and look for any dangers; stay together when around water and always go with family and friends; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue service when inland and the Coastguard if at the coast; and finally float to live, if you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back and call for help, or if you see someone in the water, throw something that floats to them and resist temptation to go in.”

Drowning Prevention Week takes place 18th-25th June and free resources can be downloaded from www.rlss.org.uk. 

Follow us on Twitter – @RLSSUK

Visit our Facebook page – facebook.com/RLSSUK 

Call – 0300 323 0096

Water-based deaths increased in 2021 from previous year, reports Water Incident Database

The latest figures from the Water Incident Database (WAID) indicate that in Scotland there was an increase in water-related fatalities in 2021.

The database, which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) and focuses on gathering information related to water-based incidents, also revealed a marked rise in accidental drownings last year, too. The released figures from 2021, show that there were 58 accidental water-related fatalities in Scotland, and form part of the total water-related fatalities in the country which stands at 105 for last year.

Water Safety Scotland (WSS) has released its annual trend report which details the latest figures in comparison to Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy (SDPS) and the previous year’s data.

Carlene McAvoy, Water Safety Scotland’s Data Subgroup Chair, said: “Unfortunately we have seen an increase in water-related fatalities from the average number usually seen in Scotland. 

“The recent figures for accidental water-related fatalities show a 16 per cent increase in comparison to the SDPS baseline – bringing accidental water-related fatalities to their highest point for the last five years.”

Water Safety Scotland and its partners have responded to the tragedies that occurred in 2021 by releasing an Interim Review of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy which monitors the changes that have occurred from the original release of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy (SDPS) in 2018.

It also maps out the planning of future actions and objectives to help reduce the number of water-related accidental fatalities in and around the waters of Scotland.

The Minister for Community Safety, Ash Regan, has also released a Water Safety Action Plan, which acts to complement the strategy.

In a bid to counteract the rise in water-based incidents, and ahead of the summer, Water Safety Scotland is urging people to be safe and follow their three-part Water Safety Code:

  • Stop and Think, Spot the Dangers
  • Stay Together, Stay Close
  • In an Emergency, Call 999

Expanding on this advice, free education resources have also been released by WSS and Education Scotland prior to the summer break to assist teachers and practitioners by providing key lifesaving information to students in schools. These resources are free to use and are age and stage-appropriate. Linked intrinsically to the water safety code, more resources for all levels will be released over the summer and autumn.

Michael Avril, Chair of Water Safety Scotland, said: “The figures released today are a reminder that the work undertaken by WSS and its partners is vitally important. WSS will continue to work in partnership to prevent water-related fatalities by working with communities and national partners for a consistent approach across Scotland. Drowning is preventable and together we can help prevent future water-related fatalities and ensure that people have a safe and positive experience around our waterways”

Charity urges people to #BeAMate this Christmas and make sure friends and family get home safely

This December many of us will be making up for lost time and celebrating the festive period with friends and family across our major towns and cities, after being unable to get together last year.

With the nightlife scene working its way back to a sense of normality, this Christmas will see work parties, reunions with friends, and family gatherings taking place across the UK and Ireland. 

Whilst it will be great to see people enjoying the festivities this year, it also brings back the risks of individuals falling in the water after a night out whilst drunk making their way home.  

Young people across the country are working with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the charity which enhances communities so everyone can enjoy water safely, as they fear that this time of year will potentially see people like them unexpectedly falling into the water after enjoying their night out.  

The RLSS UK launches its annual Don’t Drink and Drown Campaign this month, which will run from 6 – 12 December, in a bid to encourage public safety with its key messages of: 

  • look out for your friends and make sure they get home safely
  • if you’ve had a drink, stay away from the water
  • find an alternative route home away from water, and
  • stay away from water in winter, cold water shock kills. 

With alcohol impairing our judgements, limiting muscle ability, slowing down reactions and numbing our senses, this can mean that even for strong swimmers, entering the water after drinking can be extremely dangerous. On average 73 people lose their lives each year through a substance-related drowning, this is over 20% of the annual accidental drowning fatalities.  

A number of young people who are working with the charity are spreading the word and offering safety advice in and around our major towns and cities this festive period.

The Youth Leadership Team at RLSS UK have been visiting popular nightlife destinations within their own local areas to deliver the message and asking people to Be a Mate over the coming months to ensure everyone can enjoy their Christmas.  

James Cossons, Youth Advisor at RLSS UK, said: “As part of my role in the Youth Leadership Team at RLSS UK, the team and I have been spreading the message of our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign to improve people’s knowledge around water safety.

“It is really important for members of the public to understand the dangers, especially at this time of year, of being around the water after drinking. We want to ensure everyone enjoys the festive period safely and we encourage everyone to be a mate this Christmas.” 

Drowning is a significant issue all year-round and one which needs caution this Christmas. The charity is urging people to be mindful and plan their safe routes home away from water.  

For further detail on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign 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 Christmas. 

Float to Live: RNLI and KÄRCHER share lifesaving message with sea wall art

– Kärcher UK announces four-year partnership with the RNLI, together supporting the RNLI’s aim of helping to prevent drowning –

Clean art has been pressure washed onto the wall of Brighton Marina, displaying a vital lifesaving message to remind the public to ‘Float To Live’ if they find themselves in difficulty in the water. 

With many still stay-cationing in the UK, Kärcher UK has created the large-scale art to support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) by reminding people of this important lifesaving method. Using high-pressure cleaners, the message was etched onto the Brighton Marina sea wall by removing layers of dirt, which had been built up over half a century. 

As part of a new four-year partnership with the RNLI, Kärcher are committed to supporting the charity’s drowning prevention mission by raising awareness and sharing water safety messaging. It comes as huge numbers of people headed to the coast this summer and increased demand on the RNLI’s volunteer crew and lifeguards. 

Kärcher will supply its cleaning equipment to every one of the RNLI’s 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland. This will include professional grade pressure washers and other important cleaning appliances to support with vital maintenance at every lifeboat station.

In 2020 alone, RNLI lifesavers saved 349 lives and helped over 33,546 people. That’s almost one life saved every single day. The charity also reported 42 lifeboat launches per day over the summer period, which is almost double the number launched throughout the rest of the year.

To remind members of the public of how to ‘Float to Live’, the pair have also collaborated on a short film, featuring crew at Selsey Lifeboat Station talking about the vital services the RNLI provide: –  https://youtu.be/PcTXcf4qGdE

The RNLI advises that if you find yourself in difficulty in the water, the five steps to follow are:

§  Fight your instinct to thrash around

§  Lean back, extend your arms and legs

§  If you need to, gently move them around to help you float

§  Float until you can control your breathing

§  Only then, call for help or swim to safety

As well as providing cleaning equipment, Kärcher are supporting the partnership by running a number of fundraising activities and sales promotions throughout the partnership to raise vital funds to help the RNLI continue saving lives at sea.

Rob Archibald, RNLI Coxswain at Selsey, the first lifeboat station to receive equipment from Kärcher as part of the partnership, said: “Kärcher’s equipment will really improve the cleaning regime we undertake at the lifeboat station. Every time the lifeboat returns to station following a launch for exercise or after responding to an emergency, station volunteers will wash down and clean the lifeboat.

“Kärcher’s equipment will make this process considerably quicker, to allow volunteers to clean areas previously inaccessible and make it a less tiring task. Maintaining and cleaning the equipment and lifeboat station is important to keep it in the best condition possible and ensures we are ready at all times to save lives at sea.”

John Payne, Director for Lifesaving Operations at the RNLI, said: “The RNLI is delighted to announce this partnership with Kärcher, a highly respected and trusted company. 

“Through this new alliance, they will help us to reach even more people with our water safety messaging, by supplying quality cleaning equipment to our crew. Kärcher’s efficient equipment will save RNLI volunteers’ time and continue to ensure lifeboats are ready to launch to those in trouble at sea.

“In addition to sharing our drowning prevention advice and supplying cleaning equipment, Karcher has pledged to generate income, fundraise for us and donate a percentage of sales via sales promotions throughout the partnership, for which we are extremely grateful.”

James Gordon, Kärcher Marketing Director, comments: “We are proud and honoured to be partnering with the RNLI, and supporting the vital work they do in saving lives at sea.

“We’re delighted that our equipment will play a role in keeping the boats and stations clean and ready for callouts at all times during the year. We hope that together over the next four years we can raise more awareness of sea safety – kicking it off in style with our clean art in Brighton!”

For more information on the partnership visit the Kärcher and RNLI social channels.

Fire and Rescue Service issues urgent water safety warning

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe in and around water this summer. The reminder has been issued following the deaths of six people in Scotland’s waterways between Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24. 

This included the recovery of a 16-year-old from the water at Balloch Country Park on Friday, July 23, an 11-year-old from the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park in Stonehouse on Saturday, July 24, and a 13-year-old from water at Hazelbank, near Lanark on Sunday, July 25.

On Saturday, July 24, a further three people lost their lives in water near Pulpit Rock, Ardlui. They were a 41-year-old man, 29-year-old woman and a nine year old boy, while a seven year old boy remains in hospital in intensive care.

Alasdair Perry is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Assistant Chief Officer and Head of Prevention and Protection.

DACO Perry said: “I would like to offer my sincere condolences and those of everyone at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to those affected by this weekend’s tragic events. 

“They are a very sad reminder that Scotland’s waterways can be dangerous, and we are asking everyone to take care and heed all available advice.”

Many people have chosen to visit lochs, rivers, and reservoirs due to the warm weather.

However, despite high temperatures, the water can still be extremely cold and people can get into difficulty due to cold water shock. This can interrupt breathing, cause loss of strength and coordination and affect swimmers of any age, fitness, or experience level.

Scotland’s many waterways can also have hidden dangers such as fast moving currents or obstacles which can also present a risk.

DACO Perry advises: “If you do get into trouble, try to keep calm then control your breathing. Lie on your back, spread out your arms and legs and float or swim. Then shout for help and, if you can, make your way to safety. 

“We would ask that no-one swims alone and that, where you can, have the proper buoyancy and safety equipment. Never leave children or young people unattended and do not mix alcohol with swimming.”

Water Safety Scotland is a voluntary association of organisations and individuals whose main purpose is to understand the risks around water in Scotland and engage with partners to develop a consistent approach to the prevention of water related fatalities.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a member of that group.

DACO Perry added: “We are committed to working with our partners and through Water Safety Scotland to educate as many people as possible about the risks involved in swimming or playing in water.

“In coming weeks, we will be conducting more visits to popular areas to engage with swimmers and visitors directly. “I would urge people to visit our website to find out more about how to stay safe.”

For more information on water safety see: https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/water-safety.aspx