Tag: Royal Life Saving Society UK

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. 

Cold Water Shock: Float to Live

Cold water shock affects your ability to breathe or swim, and leads to drowning. It can affect even the strongest swimmers.

All waters around the UK are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer.

More info: https://rebrand.ly/qpzfccl@RLSSUK@rnli@rospa

The term ‘cold water shock’ refers to a range of natural reactions that our bodies take to protect us when we enter cold water (although these reactions can sometimes work against us). And with cold water being anything from approximately the temperature of a swimming pool and below, we are not just talking about icy cold water here.

So what are the effects of Cold Water Shock?

There are three stages that your body goes through during cold water shock, starting with one that you will be familiar with a mild version of from getting into the swimming pool…a gasp for breath, this is then followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation).

At the same time as your breathing goes out of control, your blood pressure shoots up as your body tries to keep your blood warm by moving it towards the middle of your body (this is why you go pale when you’re cold).

Once your breathing is back under control, this is your window to get out of the water before the further effects of cold water shock kick in.

As your muscles cool, your strength, endurance and muscle control reduces to the point when you can’t swim any longer so can’t rescue yourself. The point at which you can’t swim any more is called ‘swim failure’, and if you haven’t got out of the water or managed to get hold of a buoyancy aid (like a lifejacket) by this time, you will drown.

What about hypothermia?

There is a lot of talk of people dying from hypothermia after falling into cold water, but the truth is that unless they have a way of surviving past the point of swim failure (like wearing a lifejacket), you will drown before you become hypothermic.

Even in really cold water, it takes at least 30 minutes for you to become hypothermic. Crucially, hypothermia remains a risk even when you get out of the water unless you get out of the cold and warm up efficiently and quickly.

Is cold water shock really responsible for lots of drownings?

It is difficult to identify if cold water shock was the cause of a drowning or not, but this is what we know:

  1. All waters around the UK are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer.
  2. Over 60% of drownings are of people who have ended up in the water by accident, so they’re normally very close to the edge, but something stops them from being able to get out safely.
  3. A sudden rise in blood pressure can be fatal for people with a pre-existing heart condition. Each year a number of people who are suspected of drowning, turn out to have had a heart attack.
  4. Studies show that people’s ability to swim in cold water is much less than their ability in a warm swimming pool.
  5. Survivors of drowning have described how the effects of cold water shock made it difficult for them to survive.

What should you do if you fall into the water?

First, keep your mouth away from the water until you have your breathing back under control, you can do this by rolling onto your back and floating or paddling to stay at the surface.

Then, don’t waste any time and swim towards an exit before your muscles start to cool, or swim towards something that will help you to stay afloat whilst you are calling for help.

Finally, once you are out of the water re-warm yourself as soon as you can to avoid hypothermia.

Drowning Prevention Week is the national campaign run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to cut down the number of drownings that occur each year. Please support RLSS UK by donating to help save lives

Prof Mike Tipton, Cold Water Shock

Professor Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth provides an excellent insight into the effects of cold water, why it can be dangerous and what can be done to keep yourself safe.

Warning: this video will save lives. 

Young people speak up to give drowning the boot

National lifesaving charity warns there could be a steep  increase in accidental drownings this summer 

A rise in drowning figures has prompted the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)  to encourage parents to teach their children how to stay safe and enjoy water safely  this summer, as part of its national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, 19-26 June  2021. 

Throughout 2020 and 2021, millions of children have missed out on vital swimming, lifesaving  skills and water safety education during the pandemic due to pool closures, leaving a dramatic  gap in school swimming and water safety education.  

Young people from low incomes and ethnic minority communities have been the hardest hit.  A staggering 95 per cent of black adults and 80 per cent of black children do not swim, and  this gap has widened still further as a result of Covid-19. 

Accidental drowning takes an average of 402 UK and Irish citizens each year, and the Royal  Life Saving Society UK fears that with lockdown restrictions lifting and staycations on the up, families will flock to inland water locations and beaches this summer, without the right  knowledge and skills, putting themselves and others at risk.  

Fourteen-year-old Teya Davies tragically died after slipping into Sniggy Pond in Widnes, trying  to help her friend who had fallen into the water before her.

Teya’s story is not a ‘one off’- it’s  one of many, so RLSS UK has teamed up with Teya’s friends and family to create a powerful  video highlighting the importance of water safety, in Teya’s honour.  

Teya’s friend, Liv Eren said: “We sadly lost our friend, Teya, at the age of 14. When looking  back on Teya’s story, we now know how preventable her death could have been if only she  knew how to swim, or to keep herself safe in the water.

“We are pleased to do our bit to prevent  others from going through the heartache of losing a friend like we have.” 

RLSS UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: “We are surrounded by opportunities to be in or  near water. Whatever their age and activity level, everyone should be having fun, creating  memories and feeling at ease around the water. The inequality in access to swimming and  water safety education, and subsequent lack of potential interaction with the water is a big concern.  

“RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy  water safely, have fun in the water and develop an essential life skill. We urge as many parents  and carers as possible to get involved with the campaign, use our free online resources, and  give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “We want every primary school pupil to learn to swim and to  have water safety lessons, not just because it can improve their physical health but also  because it is an important life skill.  

“The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s work in raising awareness about the importance of water  safety is very welcome, adding to the work we continue to do with schools to promote water  safety and swimming.  

“We must do all we can to eliminate the tragedy of children drowning.” 

Statistics (based on five-year average totals) show:  

• Over 55% of parents surveyed said they would not be confident their child would know what to  do if they fell into open water 

• 1 in 3 of those surveyed said their swimming abilities limited the activities they could do • Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children and the risk of drowning increases  from the age of 15 

• More than 46% never intended to be in water 

• 62.4% of accidental drowning happen in inland water 

• Over 80% of those who drown accidently, are male 

Drowning Prevention Week aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and  knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety. 

The Royal Life Saving Society UK believes that drowning is preventable and that even one drowning is  one too many. The Charity has produced a range of free water safety advice, resources and online  lessons to help parents, schools, leisure centres and other organisations to teach water safety to  children.  

Hero British diplomat awarded for lifesaving actions

British diplomat Stephen Ellison has been awarded the Royal Life Saving Society  UK’s (RLSS UK) ‘Certificate of Recognition’ after his heroic efforts saved a woman  from drowning. 

Mr. Ellison, currently serving as consul-general in Chongqing in China, hit headline news in  November 2020, after footage of him bringing the unconscious woman to the riverbank, went  viral. 

Out walking that morning, Mr. Ellison noticed the woman struggling in a fast-moving current,  after falling into deep water. A seasoned open water swimmer through his participation in  triathlons, Mr. Ellison wasted no time in getting into the water and bringing her to safety.

“RLSS UK’s ‘Certificate of Recognition’ celebrates members of the public who successfully  rescue someone from the water,” explains RLSS UK CEO, Robert Gofton. 

“Mr. Ellison’s selfless actions saved that lady’s life, and it is a testament to his courage and  water safety knowledge that they both survived the ordeal. 

“I was delighted to be joined by RLSS UK President Mark Smith, to award Mr. Ellison the  certificate via a video call, and I look forward to the chance to meet him face-to-face, one  day in the future.” 

“It’s often the case with a situation like this, that everyone was taken by surprise by the  sudden turn of events,” said Mr. Ellison. “As someone who takes part in triathlons, I felt confident that I could safely reach the lady in  the water and help. 

“I was just over-the-moon that she recovered consciousness and required no further  treatment. 

“It’s a wonderful surprise and an honour to be recognised by the Royal Life Saving Society  UK.” 

For more information:

RLSS UK: www.rlss.org.uk 

Twitter – @RLSSUK 

Facebook page – facebook.com/RLSSUK

Awards for Edinburgh Leisure lifesavers

Four Royal Commonwealth Pool staff have been awarded the prestigious Meritorious Lifeguard Award by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). On the day that sees the launch of the Scotland Drowning Prevention Strategy, the Edinburgh Leisure staff team were presented with their awards by RLSS UK’s CEO Di Steer at the Royal Commonwealth Pool on Dalkeith Road.  Continue reading Awards for Edinburgh Leisure lifesavers