Tag: National Water Safety Forum

New research shows alarming relationship between higher UK air temperatures and spikes in drowning

The National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) has released research which shows a concerning relationship between increases in accidental drowning deaths when warmer weather hits the UK – urging people to Respect the Water and stay safe as the weather heats up.  

The two independent pieces of research, one by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK[1]) and another by Bournemouth University[2] both conclude that significantly more people lose their lives to accidental drowning in the UK during periods of hot weather.

Dr Sam Hills, from Bournemouth University, explains: “The data indicates when UK average maximum air temperatures reach or exceed 25°C, there is a fivefold increase in accidental drowning risk when compared to days with an average of 10°C.

“Analysis also shows three times as many accidental drowning fatalities occur on days when air temperatures reach 25°C or more, when compared to the seasonal average.”

RLSS UK’s analysis also highlights the risk of taking a swim to cool off, as 57% of those who accidently drowned on days exceeding 25°C were swimming, almost three times higher than average[3]. During peak temperatures, the findings also conclude that teenagers and young adults are proportionately more likely to lose their lives.

Speaking about the research, Matt Croxall, RLSS UK Charity Director, commented: “These findings are alarming and reinforce the importance of knowing how to enjoy the water safely, as every year we hear about preventable tragedies in open water when temperatures rise.

“We are sharing this new insight ahead of the coming periods of hot weather to encourage people to have the water safety conversation with loved ones, particularly teenagers and young adults, about how to stay safe near water and to know to call 999 in an emergency.”

Ross MacLeod, RNLI Water Safety Manager added: “It’s well known that people’s behaviour changes during periods of warmer weather, with many heading to open water sites to cool off and enjoy water-related activities.

“The best way to keep yourself and others safe is to visit supervised locations and know what to do in a water emergency.”

Choose a place with lifeguards on duty such as patrolled beaches at the coast, or supervised swimming pools, aquaparks and lakes inland.

If you choose to enter the water somewhere without lifeguards, please stop and think first to assess the dangers, and always stay with other people.

If you find yourself in difficulty in the water remember Float to Live 

  • Tilt your head back with ears submerged
  • Relax and try to control your breathing
  • Use your hands to help you stay afloat
  • It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently

If you see someone else in difficulty in the water, remember Call, Tell, Throw

  • Call 999 to get help
  • Tell the struggling person to float on their back
  • Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring, inflatable toy, or bottle

Both research teams worked with the Met Office to use its data, combined with fatality data from the NWSF’s Water Incident Database (WAID).

Chris Walsh, Met Office Head of Warnings and Guidance, added: “Being prepared and aware of the dangers when there’s hot weather is the best way of keeping everyone safe.

“We know many people want to enjoy hot weather, but it’s important everyone knows the advice from RLSS UK and RNLI about what to do if they get in trouble in the water.”

For more Water Safety information, visit www.RespectTheWater.com to see campaigns from RLSS UK, RNLI and other NWSF partners.

For more information or any media enquiries, please contact Simrit Mann by emailing simritmann@rlss.org.uk or calling 0300 323 0096.

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.

Inaugural National Drowning Report launched at Westminster

A new 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), was launched this week (21 June) at Westminster.

The launch event, sponsored by TWF (The Wetsuit Factory), was attended by over 20 MPs, including: The Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle; Lord Addington; Baroness Bottomley; and Rob Butler MP for Aylesbury who gave an account from a member of his constituency Stephanie Williams about her daughter who tragically lost her life last month. 

MPs had a chance to meet with representatives from organisations such as RLSS UK, RNLI, Speedo, Water Babies, RoSPA, the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), the Maritime Coastal Agency (MCA), and key organisations from the aquatics industry who contributed to the report.

Former professional swimmer, and Speedo Ambassador, Michael Gunning was also present and spoke about his experiences within the industry. Water Safety APPG chair Giles Watling opened the launch event to his colleagues at Westminster. 

Giles Watling commented: “In my years as a yachtsman and keen swimmer, I have come to learn the dangers that water can pose. To this end, suitable education on the threats, and how to mitigate the risks, is vital. 

“I am grateful as the Chair of the APPG for Water Safety to have been able to work with RLSS UK and find out more about the work that they are doing in this area to address this. The findings of this report into what is currently being done – and what remains to be done – to save lives and prevent deaths by drowning, is welcome reading. 

“We need to be clear: in the UK, there is clear intent to be on and enjoy the water. 226 people accidentally drowned in 2022, and only through better education about how to stay safe will we bring the number of fatalities down. Everyone should be able to enjoy the water whilst remaining informed on how to avoid tragic incidents, and I am pleased to see that RLSS UK is working to achieve just that.”

The report has provided a real picture of accidental drownings in the UK and uses data from the Water Incident Database (WAID) as well as other data sources to provide the UK Government with evidence backed data on why the approach to drowning prevention needs to be improved. 

The report is also available for members of the public on the RLSS UK website and headline stats include: 

  • 151 accidental fatalities occurred in England, the highest of all the UK nations.
  • Scotland and Wales had the highest accidental fatality rate, more than double that of England.
  • 83% of accidental fatalities were male.
  • There was a 46% increase in the number of accidental fatalities amongst children, compared to the 5-year average.
  • 19 people lost their life across four consecutive days in July as UK temperatures reached record highs.
  • 60% of accidental fatalities occurred inland.
  • In summer 2022, there were 40% more accidental fatalities inland than on the coast.
  • 26% accidental fatalities were under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, presented the report findings at the event and highlighted the importance of educating everyone on water safety.  He said: “This report presents the current picture of UK drowning as analysed from 2022, and also identifies trends in relation to data over a five-year period.

“Progress is being made across the UK, however, the report clearly shows that we need enhanced Government involvement to collectively progress to deliver the current targets set by the NWSF, Water Safety Wales (WSW) and Water Safety Scotland (WSS).

“We are grateful to the great number of MPs who attended the event yesterday and we look forward to working with the UK Government to deliver the reports recommendations which include innovative solutions to better deliver school swimming; mandating that every child should have a class-based water safety lesson at each key stage; and investing in initiatives to address the increase in child drowning fatalities. 

“Together with other members of the NWSF, we will continue with our work and commitment to prevent future drownings.” 

To view the report visit www.rlss.org.uk/national-drowning-report-uk.

Lee Cooper, Managing Director at TWF (The Wetsuit Factory) who sponsored the event, said: “At TWF we believe it is crucial for Water Safety Education to reach the classrooms. 

“Increasing Water Safety Education will ensure children from all backgrounds are aware of the dangers for themselves and others.  They should be able to confidently self-rescue allowing them to be safe in, around and on all types of water. 

“TWF are in full support of RLSS UK and Water Safety APPG on their mission to get this into our school curriculum.”

The report was launched in the week of RLSS UK’s annual Drowning Prevention Week, where the charity aims to educate children and their families on water safety to ensure they are able to enjoy water safely ahead of the summer holidays. 

Drowning Prevention Week provides free resources to families to provide education for all.

Visit www.rlss.org.uk/DPW for further information.

Public urged to Respect The Water

Latest statistics show accidental drowning deaths increased again last year, with more dying at inland water than around the coast

There were 277 deaths in the UK from accidental drownings in 2021 across inland and coastal locations. This is an increase of 23 from the previous year. Accidental drownings form part of the total water-related fatalities in the UK – for 2021 the total number of deaths in water was 616, a decrease of 15 from the previous year.

The statistics and figures in the report are from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), and the key accidental drowning death insights are as follows:

• Inland open waters, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries continue to be the leading locations with 62 per cent of deaths (N=168).

• Males continue to over represent with 83 per cent of deaths (N=230).

• 40 per cent of people had no intention to enter the water, such as those walking, with causes including slips, trips and falls, being cut off by the tide, or being swept in by waves (N= 107).

Following this concerning increase in accidental water-related deaths last year, the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is reminding people of the following lifesaving advice to help people enjoy our waterways and coastlines, particularly as warmer weather arrives, but water temperatures remain dangerously cold. 

  • If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live.
  • Lean back and use your arms and legs to help you float, then get control of your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety.
  • If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112. If you are at the coast ask for the coastguard, if you are inland, ask for the fire service.

The collaborating members of the NWSF, come from a wide range of sectors including sports governing bodies, rescue services, charities, regulators, navigation and harbour authorities, local government, utilities and those representing quarry operators.

Later this summer NWSF will be launching its new #RespectTheWater campaign ahead of UN World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th.

The campaign will be promoted nationally to raise awareness of key safety advice and support the Forum’s mission to reduce drowning.

Dawn Whittaker, CEO East Sussex Fire Rescue Service & NWSF Chair said: “The pandemic continued to present considerable challenges at our coastal and inland waterways last year as more people had staycations.

“The #RespectTheWater campaign is designed to help prevent further deaths and injuries in water.

“We urge the public to understand the dangers, to learn the importance of knowing how to float to live, and to call 999 if others are in trouble and if there is a water related emergency.

“We have seen increased numbers participating in water sports and water-based activities and consequently a rise of the number of incidents associated with activities such as Stand-up Paddle boarding and Open Water Swimming. We want people to enjoy the water safely, so we will continue to focus on guidance, education and awareness for the public. 

“We will continue to work together to reduce deaths caused by drowning and water related injuries in the UK, and endeavour to reach our collective goal of halving accidental drownings in the UK by 2026. The global water safety community is onboard with a UN resolution recognising the scale and burden of drowning, calling for urgent international action.”

To view and download the WAID 2021 report visit: 

https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/waid