People in Teesside urged to 'Float to Live' this bank holiday weekend
The RNLI says it's expecting beaches to be incredibly busy
People across Teesside and North Yorkshire are being reminded about the potential dangers associated with the water.
The RNLI is urging those heading to the beach this bank holiday weekend to 'Float to Live' if they find themselves in trouble.
They charity says there were 226 deaths in the UK from accidental drownings in 2022, across inland and coastal locations. Of the people who died 40 percent had no intention of entering the water, such as those walking, with causes including slips, trips and falls, being cut off by the tide, or swept in by waves.
Nick Ayers, RNLI Regional Water Safety Lead, North and East, said: ‘We are expecting the half-term holiday to be incredibly busy at the coast and across open water in the UK. We want everyone to enjoy being around the water but we also want to make sure people stay safe and know what to do in an emergency.
‘It is important that anyone visiting open water understands the risks of the environment. We want to make sure people know what to do in an emergency. If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then, once you are through the initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can.’
Research by the RNLI and University of Portsmouth’s Extreme Environments Laboratory (EEL)6 shows that floating is different for everyone, where some people naturally float with little movement, others require gentle use of their hands and legs to stay afloat. The technique has been tested in different open water environments, which shows that Float to Live is helpful both at the coast and in inland waters.
To Float to Live: If you find yourself in difficulty in the water:
• Tilt your head back with ears submerged
• Relax and try to control your breathing
• Use your hands to help you stay afloat
• It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently