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As the summer holiday season begins for thousands of families across the country, emergency services have come together to urge the public to take care around the water on World Drowning Prevention Day 2024.
Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown, making drowning one of the top ten leading causes of death for children aged 5-14. World Drowning Prevention Day, observed annually on 25 July, serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of drowning on families and communities while promoting life-saving solutions to prevent these tragedies.
For a decade, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been at the forefront of international drowning prevention. Drawing on nearly 200 years of lifesaving expertise in the UK and Ireland, the RNLI works tirelessly to raise awareness, expand research and implement solutions to save more lives. By partnering with organisations worldwide and in countries with high drowning rates, the RNLI aims to be a catalyst for change.
In 2023, Teddington RNLI volunteer crew attended 95 incidents and saved two lives on the Thames. This summer, RNLI lifeguards will patrol around 245 beaches, offering safety advice and assistance to those in trouble. Teddington Water Safety experts will also be present at fairs and fetes throughout the summer to promote water safety.
Statistics show that 236 people accidentally died in water-related incidents in the UK in 2023, ten more than in 2022, aligning with the five-year average. Of these fatalities, 20 occurred in July and 21 in August, highlighting the importance of staying safe at the coast over the summer.
On 25 July, Teddington RNLI safety advisors and volunteer crew will join the London Fire Brigade and other emergency services in front of Hampton Court Palace from midday. They will demonstrate how to use throwlines, the importance of floating to live and other lifesaving techniques.
“On World Drowning Prevention Day, we want to remind everyone that visiting a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags can make a lifesaving difference. We know the coast will be incredibly busy over the summer holidays, and we want everyone to enjoy their time but also remember our vital safety advice.
“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 call for help or swim to safety if you can. It’s OK if your legs sink; we all float differently. In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
Miranda Jaggers, Teddington RNLI Head of Water Safety.
CFO Dawn Whitaker is the National Fire Chiefs Council lead on for Drowning Prevention and Water Safety. She says that this national day is significant, as it marks a day of remembrance for those that have been lost to drowning.
“The facts are these, as we see increasing air temperatures, more and more people look to participate in water based activities, open water swimming, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Kayaking etc, in itself that’s good, as we want people to enjoy the water, but often those people are ill equipped, they haven’t honed their skills, they don’t have the right equipment to be safe and they haven’t prepared well enough.
“It’s also true that risk taking behaviour such as entering water after drinking alcohol or tombstoning may help with adrenaline and impress mates, but it also increases risk, so risky behaviour does increase risk of injury or drowning.”
In Weston-super-Mare, Avon Fire & Rescue Service, His Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG), and the RNLI will also raise awareness of water dangers.
Weston-super-Mare firefighters highlighted the importance of this day: “World Drowning Prevention Day is an important opportunity for us to share key messages ahead of a busy summer season. We want people to make great memories by the coast and enjoy their time safely. Always avoid the mud along the coastline, as Weston has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world. If you’re stuck in the mud, things can get very scary, very quickly.”
Kent Fire and Rescue Service has recently introduced new water rescue vehicles to its fleet of emergency vehicles in order to enhance its response when someone is struggling in water or mud, providing quicker and more effective rescue response.
To help reduce the number of accidental drownings in the county, the service has launched it’s Make the Right Call campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the correct emergency service to call. Read the full story here.
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