Firefighters in Bristol say the number of people who accidentally drown each year in the Floating Harbour in the city is ‘a real concern’, as a new campaign is launched to make people aware of the dangers of the water.
A total of 13 people accidentally drowned in Bristol in the eight years between 2014 and 2022, and there have been more in the two years since, so Avon Fire and Rescue are launching a new campaign to try to educate people about the dangers of the water, and what to do if you do fall in.
Group manager Russ Mitchell said they were doing what they could to try to spread the word about the dangers of the water - and that now includes new artwork on a fire engine that will be based at Bedminster Fire Station, giving safety advice to people.
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“I am so pleased to welcome this newly-designed truck into our fleet,” said Mr Mitchell. “The dangers of water are a real concern for us, and spreading key safety advice is just one of the ways that we are working to help people reduce their risk of drowning. With three panels, the design covers important water safety points.
“The first is ‘respect the water’. You never know how cold, how deep, or how dangerous the water is, so do not go in when it is not safe to do so,” he explained.
“The second is that if you fall in, ‘float to live’. Stretch out your arms and legs and lie back in the water,” he added. “Breathe slowly and fight your instinct to panic and thrash about. Once your breathing is under control, call for help,” he explained.
The third is advice for people who might spot someone in the water. “If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999,” he said. “Do not enter the water to help them yourself, instead offer help from a safe distance away from the edge such as throwing them a floatation aid or throwline which can be retrieved from any of the River Rescue SOS stations along the waterways in Bath or Bristol.
“Whilst we strongly urge you not to enter the water where it is unsafe to do so, we know that sometimes people do fall in, and so knowing what to do if you or someone else gets into difficulty is vital,” he added.
