More than 400 people drown each year in the UK and Ireland
As temperatures soar across England, many families will be taking the opportunity to spend time outdoors in Warwickshire. But with drowning causing hundreds of preventable deaths every summer, Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service would like to remind residents of the importance of staying safe around water.
While reservoirs, lakes and rivers can look appealing on a hot day, there are hidden dangers lurking below the surface that can cause serious harm to swimmers, or even lead to fatalities. Open water is often much colder than expected, which can affect your ability to swim and get out safely. Currents and riptides can drag swimmers away from the water’s edge and make it difficult to stay afloat.
If you see someone in trouble in the water, don’t enter it yourself – instead call 999 and ask for the fire service. If you do fall in, don’t struggle, try to stay calm and float. Staying calm can be the difference between life and death. Wait until the cold water shock has passed, then think about the best way to get out or stay afloat until the emergency services are able to help.
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service would also like to reiterate guidelines for the safe use of barbeques:
- Never leave a lit barbecue unattended.
- Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues.
- Make sure your barbecue is well away from sheds, fences, trees, shrubs or garden waste.
- Use enough charcoal to cover the base of the barbecue, but not more.
- Don’t use accelerants such as lighter fluid or alcohol – this can cause fires to quickly become uncontrollable. Instead, light your barbeque with plenty of time to spare.
- Keep children, pets and garden games away from the cooking area.
- After cooking, make sure the barbecue is cool before moving it.
- Empty ashes onto bare garden soil, not into dustbins or wheelie bins. If they’re hot, they can melt the plastic and cause a fire.
- Enjoy yourself, but don’t drink too much alcohol if you are in charge of the barbecue.
- Always keep a bucket of water, sand or a garden hose nearby for emergencies.
- Never use a barbecue indoors.
Many of Warwickshire’s country parks do not permit barbeques for safety reasons. However, if you are in a public space that does allow barbeques, please ensure you light them away from trees and bushes and stay with the barbeque until it is fully extinguished and cool.
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service's Community Fire Prevention and Arson Manager, Moreno Francioso said:
“Every summer, our service attend incidents involving people who have attempted to swim in open water. Please think twice before you get into deep water and not only put your life at risk, but also the lives of our firefighters or passers-by, who go in to try and rescue you. The only safe option is to avoid open water swimming entirely.
“We are also asking residents to follow the basic guidelines laid out for barbequing safely. By taking our advice regarding water and fire safety, the community can enjoy this hot weather without risking incidents with potentially tragic outcomes.”
Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety, added:
“Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service work diligently to respond to call outs for people who get into trouble in open water. While we will always be here to support our residents, we urge you to follow safety measures that can avoid these incidents entirely and mitigate the possibility of a nice day ending in tragedy.”
For more information on staying safe in or around water, visit: https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/water-safety-information