People in Essex urged to take around cold water this festive season
They told us the risks and what to do should you or anyone else be in danger
Christmas is a time of joy, not a tragedy.
That's according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, which is encouraging people across the Essex to be careful this Christmas and New Year.
David Walker from ROSPA told us, what to do should you find someone in the water: "If you see someone in the water talk to them, shout at them, tell to float and live.
"Water in the UK is not like a swimming pool, it's much colder than you expect and that we're used to.
"There's an effect called 'cold water shock' which stops your ability to swim it starts to affect your ability to breathe when you're in the water, which brings on the drowning process.
"So when some bodies in the water, they struggle and they become overwhelmed by the temperature and that's the thing that triggers drowning deaths.
"If someone gets in trouble the best thing you can do is call 999 and ask for the fire brigade to help.
"Try to help them (the person in trouble) from the land.
"Grab an object, such as rescue equipment or a pole or a branch, anything that allows you to help that person from the land reach out to them.
"Tell them to float to live and try to gently bring them into the land.
"The key thing is to help them from the land and make sure you call triple 9.
"It's important to think about planning your routes home, not to go home alone if you can.
"We do see people ever year, who die after a night out, especially when they've been drinking or just slip and fall into the water.
"So choose your routes carefully, get a taxi make sure you go home with your friends"
Top tips
- Don't go into natural water this winter
- Don't go on any ice
- Cold water shock can occur if your fall into the water
- If you see someone in the water - Do not get into the water to try and help
- Call 999 and ask for the fire service
- Call out to them, tell them to float, use objects around you to try and gently guide them out
- Plan your journeys home
- Go home with friends or family