Wiltshire Fire Service urges you to 'Be Water Aware' this bank holiday
Water safety advice has been issued by the service
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service are urging people to be 'Water Aware' this bank holiday weekend.
The Service are backing the The National Fire Chiefs Council's (NFCC) Be Water Aware campaign.
As the current Covid-19 restrictions ease, it is anticipated that many people will head to coastal locations and inland water beauty spots.
It is as statistics reveal that in the UK in 2019 more people died from accidental drowning that cyclists on the road.
223 accidental drownings were reported in that year, with many more life changing, water related incidents.
We're being asked to not to be complacent when spending time in and around water, with the aim of encouraging people to be safe by being aware of the risks.
Advice on water safety from DWFRS includes:
- Never swim alone in case you need help.
- Don't drink alcohol when undertaking water related activities, it impairs judgement and your ability to swim.
- Avoid walking routes near water if you have been drinking alcohol.
- Don't dive or jumping straight into open water, this can cause potentially fatal cold water shock, even on the warmest day.
- Actively supervise children in and around water - drowning can happen fast and silently.
- If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, don't panic, extend your arms and legs out and float on your back until the effects of cold water shock pass.
- Never enter the water to try and rescue someone, call 999 and ask for the Fire Service if inland and the Coastguard if you are by the sea.
The NFCC's Drowning Prevention Lead Dawn Whittaker said: "We want people to enjoy spending time in and around water safely and that's why we are asking people to be water aware. By highlighting this issue and making sure simple safety messages reach them, we hope to reduce the number of these needless and preventable deaths."