Tag: drowning

Water Safety Scotland shows support for World Drowning Prevention Day

Members of Water Safety Scotland have welcomed the first World Drowning Prevention Day which will be held annually on July 25, following  and follows the passing of a Global Resolution on Drowning Prevention by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in April 2021.

The Scottish Government has praised the new water safety initiative. Ash Denham MSP, the Minister for Community Safety, said: “World Drowning Prevention Day is an important opportunity to raise awareness about water safety issues and I would like to thank Water Safety Scotland and RoSPA for their continued dedication and hard work.

“The risk of drowning is often overlooked and it is important that people are aware of the dangers so they can enjoy Scotland’s beautiful inland and coastal waters safely and responsibly.”

The historic UN resolution invites member states to take action to prevent drowning fatalities in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2014 recommendation report and subsequent guidance.

Recent estimates from WHO show that globally, approximately 236,000 people drown every year and that drowning is among the ten leading causes of death for children and young people aged 1–24-years.

Data from the Water Incident Database (WAID) shows that in Scotland, on average there are 97 water-related fatalities each year. The most recent statistics from 2020 revealed that there were 99 water-related fatalities with 39 due to accidental drowning.*

WHO has coordinated preparations for World Drowning Prevention Day and has invited stakeholders across the world to mark the occasion. Water Safety Scotland fully supports the UN Global Resolution and World Drowning Prevention Day**

Michael Avril, Chair of Water Safety Scotland, said: “Water Safety Scotland is proud to support World Drowning Prevention Day and is looking forward to continuing to work with partners in Scotland to prevent future drowning tragedies.

“Scotland carries a disproportionate burden; the accidental drowning rate is almost double the UK’s average when the relative population is taken into account.

“We want people to enjoy Scotland’s waterways in as safe away as possible and recommend that people follow Scotland’s Water Safety Code in order to help themselves and others stay safe around water.

“The key pieces of advice from the code are to: 

  • Stop and think – spot the dangers
  • Stay together, stay close
  • Know what to do in an emergency.

“Please #RespectTheWater.”

Organisations across Scotland will be participating in a social media campaign highlighting their support for the day and for Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy.

Scottish Canals are supporting WHO’s suggestions of “Going Blue for World Drowning Prevention Day”.

The Kelpies, 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures in Falkirk, will be lit up blue on the evening of the July 25 to mark the occasion and show their support as members of Water Safety Scotland and for World Drowning Prevention Day.

Richard Millar, Scottish Canals’ Chief Operating Officer, said: “Scotland’s canals are vibrant green and blue spaces for all to enjoy and connect with nature, whether you are taking to the towpaths by boot or bike, or enjoying the canal by boat or paddle sport.

“It is important that no matter how you choose to enjoy the waterways, that all users are aware of the dangers that canals, reservoirs, and any body of open water can pose. Scottish Canals is proud to be supporting World Drowning Prevention Day and will continue to champion safety messaging from partners and our own #CanalCareful safety campaign to ensure canal users are equipped with the knowledge to keep themselves and others safe.”

Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy is currently in its fourth year, with a review set to be published next spring along with a water safety conference that will be organised in conjunction with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Threipmuir Reservoir: body found

Police in Edinburgh have confirmed that a body has been found in the Threipmuir Reservoir following a recovery operation after a man was seen getting into difficulties in the water around 5.35pm on Wednesday, 14 July.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of the man, who have asked for privacy, have been made aware.

There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Thriepmuir Reservoir car park and the path alongside the reservoir, is now reopen to the public.

Fire Service issues frozen water warning

THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is warning communities across Scotland to stay clear of frozen water as temperatures drop. 

The national service is urging the public to be aware of the risks of going onto or allowing children and pets to go onto the ice. 

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, more than 50 per cent of all drowning cases involving ice in the UK involved the attempted rescue of another person or a pet. 

And SFRS is warning that while ice can look and feel solid, it can suddenly crack and cause a person to fall through and potentially become trapped under the ice. 

DACO Alasdair Perry is SFRS’ Head of Prevention and Protection. He said: “We would ask everyone to be aware of the dangers of ice during this cold snap and strongly advise against walking or playing on any iced-up waterways and always ensure that children are kept away from any iced over ponds or rivers.

“If you are out with your pet, do not throw sticks or balls near frozen water, and if they do get into trouble on the ice, do not venture onto the ice yourself to attempt a rescue – dial 999. 

“The ice may look solid, but it is not worth the risk to step out on to it.”

The low temperature of the water can also bring on cold-water shock, which can be potentially deadly. 

Cold-water shock can cause breathing difficulties, blood vessels to close, the heart-rate to increase and lead to a heart attack. 

Michael Avril, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s Regional Water Safety Lead for Scotland, said: “Walking on ice is extremely risky and unpredictable and the RNLI advise that you avoid doing this.

“If you do fall through, the freezing water temperatures can bring on cold water shock.  

“If you find yourself or someone else in trouble, dial 999 and ask for the fire service immediately. Do not attempt to rescue anyone yourself.” 

For more information on Cold Water Shock please visit the RNLI website at https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock 

For more information on how to stay safe around frozen water, visit https://www.rlss.org.uk/winter-water-safety or https://www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water/advice/ice.aspx 

Stay safe around water this summer

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging everyone to stay safe around the water this summer and avoid preventable tragedy.

Those who enjoy activities in or around lochs, rivers and reservoirs can get into difficulties, suffer cold water shock and risk drowning.

This danger is also faced by those who walk their dogs or enjoy leisure pursuits, such as running or cycling, as they can mistakenly fall into areas of water and also find themselves in difficulty.

Latest figures from the SFRS show that over a two-month period in summer 2019, highly trained firefighters responded to 46 water rescues across Scotland.

Figures recently released by the Royal Life Saving Society also show that in 2019 a total of 37 people in Scotland tragically lost their lives to unintentional drowning.

Crew Commander Marcus Valente, based in Inverness, said: “Even if you don’t intend to enter the water whilst out this summer, you or someone you are with may inadvertently fall in. This could expose you to hidden dangers such as cold water shock, rip tides, subsurface currents, fast flowing water and snag hazards like trees and rocks.

“In the fire service, we practice techniques with a wide range of specialist equipment that enable us to perform rescues safely and effectively and I’m sad to say that we are called to use these techniques and equipment all too often.”

Crew Commander Graham McCartney, is a water rescue instructor based at Polmadie Fire Station in Glasgow. He said: “Open water can be a cold and hostile place even for the most experienced swimmers among us.

“Firefighters who carry out water rescues have to complete intensive training beforehand to understand the hazards and become adept at using specialist equipment, including inflatables and throwlines.

“We not only have to bring people to safety, but we need to keep ourselves and our team members out of danger too.

“Cold water shock, mud banks under the water and undercurrents are just some of the hazards you could come up against.”

Station Commander Andy Bennett from Glenrothes Fire Station in Fife, added: “Often people make the mistake of thinking that jumping into open water is the same as swimming in an indoor pool.

“When you swim in a pool you can see under the water and it’s clean. However, visibility can be poor in rivers and lochs because of the dirt, making it hard to see hidden debris that could cause injuries or trap you.

“If you’re with someone who gets into difficulty, the best thing you can do is find something to throw to them and pull them to safety.”

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Alasdair Perry is also reminding everyone to be aware of the risks as the service continues its campaign to support everyone to enjoy a #SaferSummer2020.


DACO Perry said: “We understand that many people will be looking forward to spending time outdoors as movement restrictions begin to ease amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But we want people to have an enjoyable experience and we would therefore ask the public to be mindful of the very real risks and keep a safe distance from unsupervised waterways.

“People can get into difficulty in the water for a number of reasons, but entering rivers, lochs or quarries for a swim is never a good idea because things can go wrong very quickly due to factors such as cold water shock which can leave someone gasping for breath.

“It is also important to note that many others, such as dog walkers and runners, can unintentionally end up in the water and we would ask them to also be aware of the dangers posed by water.”

Firefighters support water safety campaign

Firefighters back Drowning Prevention Week (18 – 26 June)

Water Rescue team - on lines

Firefighters have joined calls for people to stay safe around water.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews are frequently called to emergencies where someone has gotten into difficulty on rivers, canals and lochs throughout the country.

While firefighters always do what they can to save lives, they know their specialist skills are not always enough. Around 400 people drown in the UK every year and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) launched Drowning Prevention Week to make people aware of the dangers and support schools, clubs and leisure centres working to avoid needless tragedies.

It has created activity packs with a video, a lesson plan and guide for educators, which are available on the SFRS website at www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-safety/water-safety/schools-and-community-groups-resources.aspx.

Assistant Chief Officer Robert Scott, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, said: “Scotland enjoys some the most beautiful rivers, lochs, canals and reservoirs in the UK and every year thousands of people visit to enjoy them. We want everyone who comes to these spots to have a great time and not experience a tragedy.”

He continued: “It’s important to remember water can pose risks. By looking out for hazards, following advice and signs, never swimming alone and knowing what to do if an emergency does happen, people can help keep themselves and others safe.

“It’s also vital that parents talk to children about safety if they could be playing near to water.”

Waterways can look very calm on the surface but have strong undercurrents or hidden objects lying beneath, which could easily trap someone or cause serious injury.

Open water can also become very cold just a few feet under the surface and can cause cramps or cold water shock.

Very cold temperatures affect stamina and a person could find their strength and ability to swim deteriorate rapidly, much faster than would be the case in a heated pool.

It is also important that people never enter the water if they are under the influence of alcohol, as doing so could be a fatal mistake.

DPW-Press-release-image

The families of Cameron Gosling and Cameron Lancaster are both showing their support for Drowning Prevention Week and the RLSS charity.

Fourteen to 18-year-olds are the group most at risk of drowning and figures show that around 90 per cent of all 14 to 18-year-old drowning victims are male.

Cameron Lancaster tragically lost his life at the age of 18, after jumping into the disused Preston Hill Quarry in Inverkeithing, Fife, in August 2014.

His sister Ana, 15, spoke out for the first time since losing her brother and said: “I think that it’s incredibly important that Drowning Prevention Week is supported as widely as possible, as there needs to be more awareness of water safety and the dangers of large inland bodies of water, where many people have already lost their lives.

“My family and I are supporting the campaign by presenting talks in high schools around Scotland – where we can target my own age group of 14 to 18-year-olds.

“This age group really hits me hard as it’s also when people begin to really grow into their potential, and to cast all of that potential away due perhaps to ignorance is just unthinkable.

“I really hope that teens across the country hear this campaign and take it into account, as it may not only spare a life, but also the hurt that ripples throughout the communities when accidents like these do happen.”

Cameron’s mother, Gillian Barclay, added: “It is really important to take note of RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week messages, messages that can mean the difference between life and death.

“We would ask people to support the campaign to ensure they and their families stay safe. Let’s avoid any more tragedies wherever possible.”

Cameron Gosling from Crook, County Durham was just 14-years-old when he drowned whilst swimming in the River Wear, Witton Park, Durham, with friends on 5 July last year (2015) after he jumped from a rock into the river.

His mother, Fiona said: “My phone went and it was a text saying Cameron had jumped into the river – he hasn’t come back up and we can’t find him. Then, when I saw someone walking up the drive later that night I knew they had found him.

“Cameron was a popular, fun and caring teenager whose life ended too soon.

“I have been working with RLSS UK to give children and teenagers the education and knowledge not to expose themselves to dangers when playing near rivers and lakes.

“I want to prevent any more people losing their lives to drowning and to stop any more families having to go through the pain and loss we have been and are still going through.”

Eighty per cent of all summer drowning victims are male, and it is hoped that targeting this high risk group will drive vital water safety messages home to thrill-seeking young people before the school summer holidays.

To help target this group RLSS UK has created new, hard-hitting education resources including an interactive presentation for secondary schools. The presentation ‘Drowning – It’s up to you’ focuses on teenagers’ choices and how the decisions they make can have disastrous effects. The presentation is also accompanied by additional resources including school lessons, assembly briefings, games and activities.

RLSS UK’s Chief Executive Officer, Di Steer said: “Around 400 people needlessly die from drowning each year and thousands more suffer injury, some life changing, through near drowning experiences. Putting these figures into context one person dies from drowning in the UK every 20 hours and over a third of all drownings occur over the summer months.

“We all know that water can be fun and a way to cool off in the summer, however it is important that children know how to stay safe. Every year we tragically see an increase in the amount of drownings over the summer period and we want to stop this.

“We hope during this year’s campaign we reach this key age-group, most at risk of drowning, as well as continuing to target younger children before they reach the age they will be most vulnerable.”

Each year, Drowning Prevention Week drives home water safety messages throughout a targeted week of activities, demonstrating how to stay safe and have fun near water. It also serves to raise money for the RLSS UK’s drowning prevention work.

Last year, thousands of primary schools, leisure centres and community groups delivered water safety lessons or events and this year the campaign aims to reach over 180,000 people with water safety educational resources.

For more information on RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign, download free resources and get safety advice – visit  www.rlss.org.uk

Drowning Prevention Week 2016 (1)