Water safety warnings as figures show young people face the highest risk of drowning
26% of all accidental drownings in the UK involved people aged 10 to 29.
Young people face the highest risk of drowning according to new data.
Figures from the Water incident database show that 26% of all accidental drownings between 2020-2024 involved people aged 10 to 29.
The risk is heightened during spells of warm weather as higher temperatures encourage people to cool off in open water.
James Ball, Head of Prevention at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service says “it's understandable why people would think it would be a good idea. However, temperatures in our rivers, particularly in our lakes, which can be very deep.
“The temperatures barely get above 16 degrees and thermal shock can occur. The body starts to go into paralysis, you'll start to gasp, panic, your blood pressure goes up and then drowning can kind of follow quickly afterwards as well as all of the hidden risks that lie below the surface that might not be visible.”
“So as appealing as it might seem, the dangers are extremely high”
Today marks World Drowning Prevention day, and the National Water Safety Forum (NSFW) has launched an initiative to educate the public on self-rescue through floating.
Called ‘Find Your Float’, as James explains:
“If you do find yourself in trouble in open water and you're in position where you're struggling. Then try and remember, to turn onto your back, tilt your head back, trying to get your ears under the water, and then just slowly try and slow your breath down until you can kind of catch your breath and then you can start to breathe a bit more regularly and then take yourself to safety”
“We would encourage everybody to consider using the app called What Three Words. Which is really handy if you do see somebody that gets into trouble.
“You can call 999, use the app and give the What Three Words location and it will pinpoint you to a three meter location that we are able to then send to our responding crews but that will pinpoint exactly where you are. Because quite often if you're on a river or a lake it can be quite remote and knowing where you is half the battle”
As not everyone floats in the same way the NWSF is hosting public events across the UK on 25th July where participants can find out what floating looks and feels like for them.