Members of the public can now find out what is being done to tackle drowning prevention through the National Water Safety Forum’s updated website.  The group has relaunched its website to make it more user-friendly and accessible for members of the public, to help them address better understand water risks and what’s being done to tackle drowning, and to help them address water safety issues such as education, policy and suicide prevention.  The redesigned website is now responsive, meaning it can be accessed from and viewed across the full range of devices, and is easier to navigate ..read more

The Ministry of Justice is consulting on proposals to establish an independent public advocate who will act for bereaved families after a public disaster. This consultation is aimed at people who have been bereaved or otherwise affected by a public disaster; the organisations that support them; organisations and services involved in investigating disasters; and anyone else affected by or with an interest in the issues in this consultation. The consultation closes on 3 Dec 2018. https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/establishing-an-independent-public-advocate/ &nb ..read more

The number, from the Forum’s Water Incident Database (WAID), represents two-fifths (41 per cent) of the overall number of deaths in water that year (592) and includes 13 cases in which natural causes of death were suspected or confirmed. Other causes include suicide (209), crime (5), and cases in which the cause was not recorded or confirmed (123). As in previous years, men (217) are disproportionately represented in the statistics, with young and middle-aged males being particularly affected. The majority of incidents occurred at the coast/shore/beach (68) or on rivers (64). As in previous ye ..read more

“Knowing what to do if someone accidentally falls in cold water could mean the difference between life and death.”  – Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board   Swimming and classroom lessons should teach children about the dangers of cold water shock, as new figures show a 25 per cent rise in the number of young people drowning accidentally, council leaders urged today. With school holidays approaching and current warm weather, the Local Government Association (LGA) is warning how even strong and confident swimmers can struggle and drown after ..read more

Our brand new Coastal Group met at the RLSS offices in May, following a meeting of the existing Beach Advisory Group in the morning. The group brings together representatives from many of the major water safety organisations whose aim is to help save lives around the coast. It will work to raise awareness of the risks and take action to inform the public to keep people safe whilst participating in leisure activities on the coast.  In the future other organisations such as local resilience forums and local government associations may be invited to join. This time the group discussed how or ..read more

New figures released today (May 11) reveal that 300 people lost their lives in accidental drownings, or drownings in which an accident is suspected, in the UK last year. The figures, published by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), reveal that a large number (112) of those who died did not intend to be in the water – of whom 77 people drowned while out walking or running – while 104 people drowned while partaking in water-based activities. The total includes 35 people who died from suspected natural causes while or after being in the water. The NWSF’s Water Incident Database (WAID) compile ..read more

This one-off oral evidence session scrutinises the structure and coordination of organisations that work to prevent and respond to emergency incidents around the coastline, including the implications of recent reorganisations of the Coastguard and Search and Rescue helicopter services, and integration with the traditional land-based emergency services. The session considers issues around beach safety, and the responsibilities of beach owners and managers, in the light of a spate of tragic accidents at a number of locations in summer 2016. There are also broader questions about implementat ..read more

New figures released today (July 29) reveal that 321 people lost their lives in accidental drownings in the UK in 2015. The figures, published by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), also show that the majority of those who died did not intend to be in the water, with 82 people having drowned while walking or running, and 29 deaths while taking part in a commercial activity. The number also includes 30 people who died from suspected natural causes while or after being in the water. NWSF’s Water Incident Database (WAID) compiles drowning statistics from across the UK and breaks these down in ..read more

A new film which targets 18 to 29 year old men with a message about the dangers of cold water shock is being launched by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) today (Monday 25 July). The new 40-second film aims to highlight the dangers of jumping or falling into water, especially after drinking, and reveals… via New film aims to highlight dangers of drinking or falling into water, especially after drinking — Maritime and Coastguard Agency ..read more

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