Stay safe in open water across Dorset
The RNLI are reminding us cold water shock can kill
There are calls for people to be safe by open water across Dorset as we head into the warmer months.
It's part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC’s) Be Water Aware campaign that aims to raise awareness about the risk of accidental drowning and provide safety advice.
Recent stats show 40% of people who accidentally drowned had no intention of entering the water with slips, trips and falls often the cause.
Males also account for 87% of these accidental fatalities with 60% in inland waters such as rivers, reservoirs and lakes.
Dawn Whittaker, Drowning Prevention Lead for NFCC, said:
“Be Water Aware is about helping people spend time in and around water safely.
“We encourage people to reduce their risk of drowning by making safe choices around water and to know what to do if an emergency should happen.
“Simple advice to ‘Call, tell, throw’ and ‘Float to Live’ are lifesaving messages which fire services share to help reduce these preventable deaths and the devastating impact they have on families and communities.”
Safety advice includes not entering the water after drinking alcohol, stick to pathways and stay clear of the waters edge and walk into the water instead of jumping as cold water shock can kill.
Unseen hazards can put even strong swimmers into trouble.
Dorset lifeguard, James CORE-SUNS says people should not put themselves in harms way to help others:
"It takes a lot of courage and its an amazing thing to do, but it would be our advice to not enter the water to make a rescue as there is ultimately a reason why that individual is drowning, whether that's a rip current or something you haven't noticed, so as fantastic as it is you really need to consider your own safety and do not enter the water to rescue someone."
If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember ‘Float to Live’. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Relax and breathe normally. Move your hands to help stay afloat. Spread your arms and legs out. Once your breathing is controlled, call for help or swim to safety.