Warwickshire Fire joins water safety call

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is joining a national campaign urging people to stay safe in and around water this summer.

The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC’s) Be Water Aware campaign runs from 22-28 April, and aims to raise awareness about the risk of accidental drowning and provide safety advice ahead of the warmer months.

In 2022, 266 lives were lost to accidental drowning in the UK.

Statistics reveal 40% of people who accidentally drown had no intention of entering the water – with slips, trips, and falls often being the cause of these incidents.

Moreno Francioso, Fire Prevention Manager at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, says these deaths are preventable tragedies.

He said: “Generally, this time of year the weather starts getting better, we start getting a little bit of sun and people feel that it's an ideal opportunity to cool down by jumping into water. Every year, a lot of people drown either in coastal areas or inland waters, and many of these deaths, unfortunately, are preventable. So, we try to get these messages out to achieve a 50% reduction of accidental drownings between 2016 and 2026.”

Simple tips to help stay safe include:

• Stick to proper pathways and stay clear of the water’s edge

• Don’t enter the water after drinking alcohol

• Walk a safe route home after drinking, with friends and away from water

• Cold water shock can kill, walking into the water rather than jumping in can help reduce the risk.

If someone is in trouble in the water, the best way to help is by staying calm, staying on land, and remember Call, Tell, Throw:

• Call 999 for the emergency services

• Tell the struggling person to float on their back.

• Throw them something that floats.

For more information about the ‘Be Water Aware’ campaign please visit: www.nfcc.org.uk /bewateraware and look out for #BeWaterAware on social media.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.