Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is backing a national campaign aimed at reducing the number of people who drown every year. For Drowning Prevention Week from 29 April - 5 May, the National Fi...
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is backing a national campaign aimed at reducing the number of people who drown every year.
For Drowning Prevention Week from 29 April - 5 May, the National Fire Chiefs Council
(NFCC) is running the campaign ‘Be Water Aware’, which aims to highlight the risk of accidental drowning.
Statistics show that half of accidental drownings happen when people do not even intend to go in the water and activities such as running, walking, fishing and cycling near water can put you at a higher risk of drowning.
Warwickshire has a wide variety of lakes, quarries and waterways, all of which carry hidden dangers and have seen a number of fatalities over the years. With the summer holidays coming up, this danger is only going to increase.
Talking about the campaign, Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety said: ‘People may be shocked to hear that the highest risk of accidental drowning is from taking part in everyday activities near water like running, walking and cycling.
‘Locally to Warwickshire, there are a lot of routes that people use near rivers and canals, so it is vital for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service to highlight these risks and make sure residents are aware of simple safety steps, should they be near open water.’
To help you stay safe near water, we recommend taking the following steps:
- if you are going for a walk or run near water, stick to proper pathways and stay clear of the waters edge
- make sure conditions are safe, avoid walking or running near water in the dark, slippery or in bad weather
- if you've had alcohol don't enter the water, avoid walking alone and avoid routes near water
- never enter the water to try and help a person or animal - always call 999 and use any water rescue equipment if it is available
- if you are spending time near water - whether at home or abroad, make sure you are familiar with local safety information.
If you do come across someone in the water, then please do not try to rescue them:
- call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service and ambulance
- pinpoint your location as accurately as you can - look for landmarks\bridges etc
- if you don't have a phone shout for help
- encourage the casualty to try and float on their back
- if there is rescue equipment nearby throw it to them.
Further water safety advice can be found here - http://rlss.org.uk/