Penarth Fire Station extends partnership with Theatr na nÓg for water safety education

by Featured NewsSafety

Water safety workshops at Cardiff Bay

Penarth Fire Station has announced the extension of its partnership with local theatre group Theatr na nÓg following the success of a recent community event at Cardiff Bay.

As reported by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the event featured a series of workshops and performances of the award-winning live-action piece, ‘Just Jump’.

These will be repeated from 3rd to 7th June at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay to highlight the dangers of open water and anti-social behaviours such as swimming in unsupervised waters and ‘tombstoning’ – the act of jumping from high structures into water.

Commissioned by Cardiff Harbour Authority and Arts & Business Cymru, ‘Just Jump’ is a sombre story with a sad ending, designed to ensure young people have the necessary information to make safe decisions during the summer months.

Community engagement and education

The initial event, which took place from 20th to 24th May, saw over 500 members of the public participate, along with approximately 600 pupils and teachers from 10 schools across South Wales.

The collaborative effort between Penarth Fire Station and Theatr na nÓg provided vital water safety education.

School children aged between eight and ten years old engaged in competitions and learnt lifesaving techniques such as ‘float to live’ and other water rescue procedures.

All watches from Penarth Fire Station attended the event, supporting the educational activities and engaging with the community to promote water safety.

Feedback from organisers

Station Manager Nathan Rees-Taylor described the event as a “dynamic and engaging platform to educate and inform”.

He added: “We are extremely proud of the success of this event. The collaboration with the Theatr na nÓg group and the dedication of the community has been outstanding.

“It is vital that our young people understand the dangers of open water and make informed decisions, especially as the weather warms up.”

Future events and participation

The extended event will continue to focus on educating students from Welsh schools across South Wales.

Organisers hope that the continued partnership and repeated performances will further enhance awareness of water safety among young people, reducing the risks associated with open water and anti-social swimming behaviours.

236 accidental water-related fatalities in the UK in 2023

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsSafety

Public urged to respect the water as summer arrives

As reported by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), June and October saw the highest number of accidental water-related fatalities in the UK in 2023, with 28 lives lost in each month.

This unusual pattern is concerning experts, as drownings typically peak in July and August.

As summer approaches, the public is urged to respect the water and take precautions to prevent last year’s rise from becoming a long-term trend.

As the weather warms across the UK, more people will be spending time near water.

Despite rising air temperatures, water temperatures remain dangerously cold, and many people are unaware of risks such as Cold Water Shock.

The National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is encouraging people to learn about these risks and how to help themselves and others in a water-related emergency.

Water-related fatalities and their causes

In 2023, 236 people in the UK died in accidental water-related incidents, aligning with the five-year average of 243 but ten more than in 2022.

Additionally, there are 211 further cases where the cause is still unknown, which may increase the number of accidental fatalities as coroners provide more information.

The 2023 Water Incident Database (WAID), maintained by the NWSF, reveals several key findings:

  • Inland waterways accounted for 63% of accidental drownings, including rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and quarries.
  • Males represented 83% of accidental fatalities.
  • June had 28 fatalities, followed by 20 in July and 21 in August.
  • Everyday activities like walking and running accounted for 48% of fatalities, with 88 victims not intending to enter the water.
  • Of the 236 fatalities, 157 occurred in England, 47 in Scotland, 28 in Wales, and 4 in Northern Ireland.

#RespectTheWater campaign

The #RespectTheWater campaign, run by the NWSF, aims to provide life-saving advice and encourage people to take personal responsibility for their safety near water.

This year’s focus is on knowing how to help others in trouble.

The key steps are:

  • Call 999 for help.
  • Tell the person in trouble to float on their back.
  • Throw something that floats, like a life ring or an inflatable toy.

The Forum will promote the #RespectTheWater campaign throughout the summer, including on World Drowning Prevention Day on 25th July.

Expert advice on water safety

Dawn Whittaker, NWSF Chair and National Fire Chiefs Council Lead for Drowning Prevention and Water Safety, emphasised the importance of awareness: “These new figures give us a poignant reminder about the importance of raising awareness of water safety and drowning prevention.

“We will continue to urge the public to understand the dangers and to learn the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency: if you see someone in trouble in the water, the best way you can help is by staying calm, staying on land, and following the 3-step rescue guide – Call, Tell, Throw.”

Whittaker highlighted the unpredictability of summer weather: “It’s hard to predict what this summer will bring, but with the increased likelihood of extreme weather events like heatwaves and flooding, we will be promoting the #RespectTheWater campaign to help people stay safe while enjoying their time in and by the water.”

Rise in water sports and safety initiatives

Whittaker also noted the rise in participation in water sports and associated incidents: “Over the last few years, the number of people participating in water sports and water-based activities has risen as has the number of incidents associated with activities such as stand-up paddleboarding and open water swimming.

“We want people to enjoy the water safely, so we will continue to focus on guidance, education, and awareness for the public.”

The NWSF will continue its efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from drowning in the UK.

Whittaker concluded by referencing global efforts: “We will continue to work together to reduce deaths caused by drowning and water-related injuries in the UK.

“The global water safety community is onboard with a UN resolution recognising the scale and burden of drowning, calling for urgent international action.”

More drownings happening at inland water than at the coast

by Featured NewsSafety

New statistics released by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) show that 226 people died from accidental drownings in the UK in 2022, prompting a fresh appeal to the public to ‘Respect the Water’. The figure is part of the total water-related fatalities which stood at 597, a decline from the previous year by 19.

The NWSF’s Water Incident Database (WAID) reveals that 46% of these accidental drownings occurred during the peak summer months of June, July, and August. Notably, a larger percentage of these deaths happened at inland water bodies, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and quarries, rather than the coast.

A breakdown of the 226 fatalities shows that England had the highest number with 151 deaths, followed by Scotland with 45, Wales with 22, and Northern Ireland with 8. Recreational activities accounted for 58% of these fatalities, and males were disproportionately represented, constituting 83% of the accidental fatalities.

As the summer season approaches, the NWSF is urging the public to heed their #RespectTheWater campaign. The campaign is aimed at providing simple life-saving advice and encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their safety and that of their family members, with an emphasis this year on assisting others in trouble.

In case of an emergency, the NWSF advises the public to follow a three-step rescue guide – Call 999, guide the struggling person to float on their back, and if possible, throw them a floatable object.

Dawn Whittaker, Chair of the NWSF, highlighted the urgency of the matter as she noted the challenges posed by the extreme summer heat, leading to increased participation in water sports and water-related activities. “We urge the public to understand the dangers and to learn the importance of knowing what to do in an emergency,” she said, stressing the importance of staying calm, staying on land, and following the rescue guide.

In her closing remarks, Whittaker committed to continued efforts towards reducing drowning and water-related deaths in the UK, aiming to cut the number of accidental drownings in half by 2026. The NWSF will also be promoting the #RespectTheWater campaign later in the summer on World Drowning Prevention Day, marked on 25th July. The global water safety community, she noted, is backing a UN resolution acknowledging the magnitude and burden of drowning, calling for urgent international action.

Scotland conducts Drowning and Incident Review

by Featured NewsSafety

In order to help reduce accidental drownings, the Drowning and Incident Review (DIR) has been created for Scotland in a bid to understand the context and circumstances that lead to an incident.

This review is one of the world’s first and was created by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in partnership with Water Safety Scotland (WSS).

On average, 96 people lose their lives due to a water-related fatality each year in Scotland. Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy aims to reduce accidental drowning deaths by 50 per cent by 2026, and in particular lessen the risk among the highest-risk populations, groups and communities.

DIR is a voluntary process that aims to ensure a comprehensive review of each suspected accidental water-related fatality. Its principal aim is to gather all relevant data and information in order to systematically review each incident with a view to prevent a future occurrence. 

The review will provide insight into water-based risks by local area, ensuring that those best placed to mitigate these risks are involved in the process and kept informed. The data capture is anticipated to lead to the development of better-informed national strategies to tackle the issue of drowning prevention.

DIR is still within its pilot phase, but recently the research evaluation has been published in BMJ Injury Prevention and was undertaken by Carlene McAvoy (RoSPA), Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor (George Institute for Global Health) and Dr Connie Hoe (John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Heidelberg University).

Some of the initial findings include ensuring improved guidance for those involved in the DIR process, resourcing for future sustainability, robust processes for organisational involvement and the crucial need for political and legal support. SFRS and RoSPA are working to address these findings ahead of the anticipated DIR release date of Spring 2023.

Carlene McAvoy, Leisure Safety Manager of RoSPA and founder and secretariat of Water Safety Scotland said: “The DIR process that we have created for Scotland is one of the first of its type in the world. The findings from the study have provided us with really useful insight into the views and perspectives of key partners. There are clear points for learning from the research and we will take these on board in order to ensure that DIR works for our partners as well as for its future sustainability. 

“The research also highlighted that DIR will address some vital gaps in drowning prevention efforts, in a consistent and standardised way. The hope is that DIR will be a tool that can be used by water safety partners in Scotland, to enable them to learn from incidents and mitigate the risk of future incidents. This supports our overarching aim to reduce accidental drownings by 50 per cent by 2026.”

James Sullivan, Watch Commander, SFRS National Water Safety Group, added: “DIR aims to provide a clear and consistent post incident process that is vital for gaining an understanding of the events and contributory factors that led to a person entering the water.

This information will allow water safety partners to take meaningful measures that may reduce the likelihood of a similar event occurring and will also assist in national drowning prevention efforts.

This research was vital to ensure that our partners had the opportunity to shape the process that can now be used to improve water safety in Scotland.”

DIR aims to release Spring 2023.

NFPA issues warning over electric shock drowning hazards

by Featured NewsSafety

In response to the number of news headlines about deaths related to electric shock drowning (ESD), the National Fire Protection Association NFPA has issued some guidance on how to stay safe when swimming this summer.

The warning, which comes ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend, a time when more people travel to the water’s edge, head out on their boats and spend time at the pool, reminds people about potential electrical hazards that exist in swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, onboard boats and in waters surrounding boats, marinas, and launch ramps.

Electric shock drowning can occur when faulty wiring sends electric current into the water that can pass through the body and cause paralysis. When this happens, a person can no longer swim and ultimately drowns. 

The NFPA said swimmers, pool and boat owners should familiarise themselves with the following information and share it with people they know before embarking on any water activities:

Tips for swimmers

  • Never swim near a marina, dock, or boatyard, or near a boat while it is running.
  • While in a pool, hot tub or spa, look out for underwater lights that are not working properly, flicker, or work intermittently.
  • If you feel a tingling sensation while in a pool, immediately stop swimming in your current direction. Try and swim in a direction where you had not felt the tingling. Exit the water as quickly as possible; avoid using metal ladders or rails. Touching metal may increase the risk of shock.

 Tips for pool owners

  • If you are putting in a new pool, hot tub, or spa, be sure the wiring is performed by an electrician experienced in the special safety requirements for these types of installations.
  • Have a qualified electrician periodically inspect and — where necessary — replace or upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that keep your pool, spa, or hot tub electrically safe. Have the electrician show you how to turn off all power in case of an emergency.
  • Make sure any overhead lines maintain the proper distance over a pool and other structures, such as a diving board. If you have any doubts, contact a qualified electrician or your local utility company to make sure power lines are a safe distance away.

Tips for boat owners

  • Avoid entering the water when launching or loading a boat. Docks or boats can leak electricity into the water causing water electrification.
  • Each year, and after a major storm that may affect the boat, have the boat’s electrical system inspected by a qualified marine electrician to be sure it meets the required codes of your area, including the American Boat & Yacht Council. Make the necessary repairs if recommended. Check with the marina owner who can also tell you if the marina’s electrical system has recently been inspected to meet the required codes of your area, including the .
  • Have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed on the boat; use only portable GFCIs or shore power cords (including “Y” adapters) that are Marine Listed when using electricity near water. Test GFCIs monthly.

For more information about electric shock drowning, visit nfpa.org/watersafety.