Cumbria Fire Service appeals for people to be safe around water

The National Fire Chief's Council is today launching it's Be Water Aware campaign.

It's website states: "(The) aim is to raise awareness about the risk of accidental drowning and provide safety advice ahead of the warmer months when these incidents can increase.

"NFCC urges everyone to enjoy time in, on, and around water safely—whether at home or on holiday. Tragically, lives are lost every year in coastal and inland waters, but many of these deaths are preventable.

"The Be Water Aware campaign is part of a coordinated effort to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, which aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in accidental drownings between 2016 and 2026.

"NFCC encourages fire and rescue services, as well as partner organisations, to share vital safety information within their communities and on social media.

"Raising awareness is key to preventing accidental drownings, and the campaign highlights practical advice, such as what to do if you see someone in trouble in the water."

Locally, in Cumbria, Water Safety Prevention lead Andrew Lowes is keen to get a message out to young me in particular, who he fears are at greatest risk of accidental drowning.

He said: "It's a big issue nationally, but specifically for Cumbria because we have so many bodies of water, we've got the lakes, we've got a beautiful coastline and naturally lots of rivers.

"Serving those coastlines and the different lakes that we have, and we have a lot of visitors come to Cumbria as well, so that's why it's very important.

"We've also had, you know, one young person that's lost their life this year in the waters of Cumbria and that is absolutely tragic and has really upset me and upset the fire service world and naturally the Cumbria Water Safety Partnership and really reinvigorates our efforts to educate people.

"we're particularly interested in young people, young men in particular.

"Four out of five accidental drowns occur with young men aged between 15 to 16 through to about 25 or 26.

"So we really want to get the message out to young men that they need to stay safe around the water and be really cognizant of the hazards and risks that are in what may at times look a really lovely body of water isn't safe. It's very, very cold.

"The water may be moving quite strongly and you know you need to be safe. Can you swim?

"Are you under the influence of alcohol or drugs? If you are, don't go in the water.

"You know, don't be that accidental risk taker. If you want to go in the water, go along to some club where you'll do it safely.

"You'll be given the right equipment, the buoyancy aids, and the correct instruction to stay safe around the water."