27/05/2026
Accidental drowning is often thought to be a predominantly coastal problem, however new data published today by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) reveals that the majority (57%) of accidental drowning deaths in 2025 occurred at inland locations such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, quarry lakes and lochs. This continues an established trend in UK drowning data, with inland locations consistently accounting for more than half of all accidental drowning deaths since 2019.
We know that periods of hot weather often correlate with a rise in accidental drownings, as increasing numbers of people visit both inland waterways and the coast to enjoy recreational activities or to cool off. The 2025 data support this trend, with August accounting for the most accidental water-related fatalities (31 deaths), followed by June and July (each accounting for 27 deaths).
Many inland waters stay dangerously cold all year round in the UK, remaining at 16°C or below even in summer, the temperature at which water is considered hazardous for cold water shock. Cold water shock is the body’s involuntary response to sudden immersion in cold water. It causes gasping, panic and loss of swimming ability, all of which can tragically lead to drowning. It also causes a spike in heart rate and blood pressure, which can result in a heart attack, even if the person is fit and healthy.
With more periods of hot weather and heatwaves forecast for the coming summer months, the NWSF is reminding everyone to enjoy the water safely at both inland waters and the coast by being aware of the risks, and by knowing how to help themselves and others in an emergency.
Professor Mike Tipton, Chair of the NWSF and leading expert in water safety and cold shock, said:
“These data mean thousands of years of life were again tragically lost in 2025. We are urging people to respect the water and to take actions to keep themselves safe – stick to supervised locations with lifeguards present, think before entering the water and enter the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold shock. If you do find yourself in trouble in the water, float on your back until you feel calm and either wait for rescue or swim to safety if you can.”
Phone Float Throw is a new public-facing water safety campaign from the NWSF and Respect The Water. It provides bystanders witnessing a someone struggling in the water with practical instructions for how to help, without putting themselves in danger:
- Phone 999 to get help
- Tell the person to stay calm and float on their back
- Throw rescue equipment to help them float until emergency services arrive
When we see someone in trouble in the water, or instinct can often be to jump in and attempt to rescue them, but entering the water yourself is dangerous and can put you at risk of drowning too. By remembering Phone Float Throw, bystanders can keep themselves out of danger and still provide lifesaving help to the person in the water.
Sadly, 202 people accidentally died in water-related fatalities in 2025. Additionally, there are a further 201 cases where the cause is still unknown, meaning the number of accidental fatalities is likely to increase as additional information becomes available from coroners.
The 2025 Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the NWSF, shows us that:
- August was the month with the highest number of accidental water-related fatalities in the UK
- Inland waterways, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries are the leading locations for accidental drowning, accounting for 57% of deaths
- Males continue to be over-represented with 85% of accidental fatalities
- Males aged 60 to 69 the most affected group, however 43% of all accidental water-related fatalities were below the age of 40.
- Recreational activities (such as adventure sports, angling, boating and sailing) accounted for 63% of accidental fatalities
- Everyday activities like walking and running accounted for 32% of accidental fatalities, meaning many of those who lost their lives were not intending to enter the water
- Of the 202 confirmed accidental fatalities, 150 were in England, 39 in Scotland, 12 in Wales, and 1 was in Northern Ireland.
To view and download the WAID 2025 report, visit the NWSF website. For more information about Phone Float Throw and other water safety campaigns, visit respectthewater.com.
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07/04/2026
The National Water Safety Forum are launching Phone Float Throw, our latest Respect The Water campaign. The campaign aims to empower people to take positive action if they see someone in trouble in the water, while remaining safe themselves.
When we someone in the water, our initial instinct can be to try and rescue them by jumping in. However, this puts you at risk of drowning too. Instead, you should remember Phone Float Throw:
- Phone 999 to get help
- Tell the person in the water to stay calm and float on their back
- Throw rescue equipment to help them until the emergency services arrive
The National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) have worked with behaviour change agency Claremont Communications to develop Phone Float Throw. Through simple, impactful imagery, the campaign uses the universally recognised symbol of a life ring to immediately associate the campaign instructions with water-based rescue in the mind of the viewer.
The campaign has been developed in partnership with NWSF partners and the public, with both the imagery and instructions undergoing heavy testing to ensure the are clear, memorable and effective.
Support the campaign
A Phone Float Throw campaign toolkit – including static and animated social media assets, posters and a detailed campaign guidance document – has been created to help NWSF members and partners to share the campaign across their channels and networks.
To download resources, visit the Respect The Water website.
Read More >
19/03/2026
Message from the Chair
We are in a period of unprecedented activity, with the National Water Safety Forum and four devolved nations all producing the next iterations of their drowning prevention strategies. These documents are critical for setting, prioritising and focussing the direction of our drowning prevention work going forward. They will determine what we do and when, enabling us to reduce the 8,000 years of life lost each year in the UK to accidental drowning.
We are also in the process of reviewing how the Water Incident Database (WAID) functions, as well as working on important projects to do with advocacy, local authorities, water safety partnerships and water safety signage. This work would not be possible without the unflinching support of NSWF members and the secretariat support of the RoSPA team. I thank them all for their amazing ongoing efforts.
Professor Mike Tipton
Chair of the National Water Safety Forum and Water Safety England
Phone Float Throw: new Respect The Water bystander rescue campaign
Over the past year, the National Water Safety Forum has partnered with Claremont Communications to carry out a review of our existing bystander rescue instructions (Call, Tell, Throw), analysing their effectiveness through data analysis, public focus groups and stakeholder workshops.
This process found that both the clarity and memorability of Call, Tell, Throw was limited, both among stakeholders and the public. “Phone Float Throw” emerged from the review as a clearer, more instinctive and more widely understood set of instructions that emphasised the same lifesaving behaviours:
Phone 999 to get help
Tell them to stay calm and float on their back
Throw rescue equipment to help them float until the emergency services arrive
Launching on April 8, 2026, the new Phone Float Thow campaign from Respect The Water aims to embed these instructions into public-facing water safety messaging, empowering the public to take positive action if they see someone in trouble in the water. Through simple, impactful imagery, the campaign uses the universally recognised symbol of a life ring to immediately associate Phone Float Throw with water-based rescue in the mind of the viewer.
A campaign toolkit – including static and animated social media assets, posters and a detail campaign guidance document – has been created to help NWSF members and partners to support the campaign. To download resources, visit the Respect The Water website.
Support the Phone Float Throw campaign
Deadline approaching to submit an abstract National Water Safety Conference 2026
The deadline to submit an abstract for the National Water Safety Forum 2026 is Tuesday, 31 March, 2026.
Submit your conference abstract
The conference will take place on 7 October, 2026, in Birmingham, and will provide a vital platform for water safety leaders, practitioners, educators and academics to share knowledge, and shape the future of drowning prevention in the UK.
We are inviting abstracts on the following topics:
- Evidence and data – research, analysis, and evaluation methods in water safety
- Education – innovative approaches to increasing knowledge, skills and experience in water safety, swimming and water competency
- Communication – campaigns, messaging, and public engagement strategies
- Policy – approaches to collaboration between government, landowner and other responsible parties as well as management of risks in and around water.
Before submitting your abstract, please take time to read the submission guidance.
World Drowning Prevention Day 2026: Support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy launch and Find Your Float campaign
Established by the World Health Organization, World Drowning Prevention Day is a global advocacy event that runs every year on 25 July.
World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 marks a particularly significant one for the National Water Safety Forum as we will be launching the new UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, as well as four new national drowning prevention strategies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We will be launching the UK and four national strategies via a coordinated media day on 24 July, 2026. Members and partners can support by amplifying the launch across their channels and networks. A toolkit to support this activity will be provided closer to the time.
We will also be asking members and partners to put the principles of the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy into action by supporting the Find Your Float campaign for a second year. The purpose of this campaign is to encourage as many people as possible to learn and/or practise the essential lifesaving skill of floating, better preparing them for a water-based emergency.
You can get involved with the Find Your Float campaign by:
- Hosting a Find Your Float event
- Building a float tutorial or demonstration into existing events or activities
- Creating a “how to float” video
- Sharing the campaign messages on your channels and with your networks
Activity should take place between 20 and 25 July, 2026. We have created a campaign toolkit of social media assets, posters and guidance documents to assist you in planning Find Your Float activity. Key campaign assets are available to download on the Respect The Water website and a full campaign toolkit will be made available shortly.
For more information on how to support both the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy launch and the Find Your Float campaign – including how to adapt the campaign to your particular organisation - please see the recording from our World Drowning Prevention Day webinar from earlier this month.
If you have any questions about the launch of the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy of Find Your Float campaign, or need support with how to get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: info@nationalwatersafety.org.uk.
Campaigns
Reduce the Risk, Boost Your Skills
HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the Royal Yachting Association have launched their 2026 water safety campaign aimed at recreational boaters.
This multi-channel campaign encourages both new and experienced boaters to “reduce the risk, boost your skills” by preparing themselves, their crew and their vessel before the start of the season. It aims to promote key safety behaviours, reduce the number of boating incidents, and prevent non-serious incidents from escalating.
Handy tips and guidance are included in the campaign’s safety checklists, which are provided free of charge across the UK, including a version available in Welsh. The laminated booklet includes simple advice, such as discussing passage plans and man overboard procedures, checking equipment and engine, identifying a second-in-command, and ensuring an effective means of calling for help is kept onboard.
To order or download copies of the checklists, posters and other campaign resources the HM Coastguard website.
Support the campaign
Be Water Aware
The National Fire Chiefs Council’s Be Water Aware campaign will be returning this spring, running from 27 April to 3 May, 2026.
The week‑long initiative focuses on raising awareness of the dangers around open water and aims to help prevent accidental drownings by sharing practical safety advice with communities. As the warmer months approach, NFCC encourages everyone to enjoy time in, on, and around water responsibly, highlighting key messages such as understanding cold‑water shock, recognising everyday risks, and knowing what to do in an emergency.
The resources for 2026 will be available for fire and rescue services and partners at the end of March via the NFCC website
Support Be Water Aware
Save the date: RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week to take place from 13 to 20 June
National Water Safety Forum members play an important role in sharing water safety messaging and being involved in campaign activities during Drowning Prevention Week.
This year, RLSS UK want even more people to get involved, whether that’s by promoting the campaign, hosting activities, or helping to shape new resources.
Planning has already begun for the 2026 campaign – if you have any ideas or thoughts for possible collaborations, please contact marketing@rlss.org.uk.
Updates from the devolved nations
Water Safety England
From national to local – a model for England’s Water Safety Partnerships
Water Safety England are currently exploring whether a more structured framework could help strengthen coordination across water safety activity in England.
One option under consideration is a model where information, guidance and support flow from Water Safety England at the national level, through regional groups, and then into local areas. This approach could offer a more manageable and consistent way of organising our collective work. However, the potential challenges are also recognised, particularly for regions where formal groups are not yet in place, which could create additional demands or capacity pressures.
Working through the Education, Technical and Engagement Group – alongside partners including RoSPA, RNLI, the LGA Coastal SIG, and the NFCC – we aim to gather feedback over the coming months and expect to share results and a short report post summer.
Local authority approaches to water safety in England
Following a snapshot survey in 2021, RoSPA and Water Safety England have successfully completed research providing the first full insights into the current management of water safety in England.
A sample of Local authorities were surveyed to understand how they plan for and deliver drowning prevention work, focusing on responsibility for water safety and existing water safety policies. The completed research shows that around half of respondents (49 per cent) have a designated person or department for water safety. However, only 27 per cent of local authorities currently have a water safety policy in place, similar to previous findings, though it is encouraging that a further 9 per cent are in the process of developing one.
The full report can be accessed on the RoSPA website.
Read the report
Water Safety Scotland
Examining water safety awareness and views in men over 50
Water Safety Scotland, through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), hosted an online focus group in February, 2026, for men over the age of 50 who reside in Scotland. This focus group was held to help understand the water safety messaging preferences of those within this demographic, as according to Drowning and Incident Review (DIR) data, they are a high frequency group for accidental drowning fatalities.
The participants were asked general questions regarding their experiences and interactions with water bodies across Scotland. The discussion then progressed into specifics regarding their thoughts and opinions on water safety communications and messaging. A report on this focus group will be released shortly, outlining the insights gained.
Water Safety Wales
Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy
Over recent months, the draft Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy has been shaped through consultation with Water Safety Wales members, the Families Group, and a range of expert stakeholders. We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise and constructive comments throughout this process. Your input has helped strengthen the document and ensure it reflects a broad range of perspectives from across Wales.
We are also pleased to confirm that the draft strategy has now completed its public consultation phase. The consultation invited individuals, organisations and communities across Wales to comment on the draft strategy and help shape the final version, and it closed on 11 March, 2026. Water Safety Wales would like to thank everyone who responded, and especially those who helped to promote the consultation more widely through their networks and social media channels. We were delighted to have received 93 responses, reflecting the strength of interest and support for drowning prevention across Wales.
The next stage will be to review the consultation feedback in full, consider any further amendments required, and prepare the final document for publication. Subject to completion of this final review process, the strategy is intended to be published on World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July.
Partner updates
Swim England: “Future of Facilities” report to be published in March
The APPG for Swimming is publishing a report into the Future of Facilities on 25 March, 2026. The enquiry examines the current state of public swimming pool provisions across England, and the main challenges facing pool owners and operators in maintaining facilities. It also promotes the importance of facilities, identifying why pools are important for the community and what the potential implications are for losing access to swimming facilities.
The report will be launched at an online event hosted by Chair of the APPG for Swimming, Jonathan Brash MP. Colleagues are welcome to join online – please contact sian.sedgwick@swimming.org if you would like to attend.
Research updates
Behind the Canal & River Trust’s “Quack Quack, Take Two Steps Back”
An article has been published in the Design Journal about the making of the Canal & River Trust’s water safety picture book for two to six-year-olds.
The Canal & River Trust worked with Muddy Publishing on a humanity-centred approach to creating and producing the book, designing it with the intended audience, not just for the intended audience. The article looks at how a picture book is a good way to reach the dual audience of young children and caregivers with a safety message in a way that can be repeated and practised.
Read the article
The physiology of survival - breath-hold shallow-water diving
A new paper on the physiology and risks of breath-hold shallow water diving was published in Experimental Physiology in December 2025. The paper is co-authored by Andrew H. Baker (Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Edinburgh), Ashley Jones (Swim England), Adrian Mayhew (Surf Life Saving GB), Carlene McAvoy (RoSPA and the National Water Safety Forum), Ross Macleod (RNLI), Hugh Montgomery (Centre for Human Health and Performance, University College London), Craig Robertson (Swim England and Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University), Jo Talbot (RLSS UK), Mike Tipton (Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth, and Chair of the National Water Safety Forum).
Read the paper
Read More >
08/01/2026
Stay off the ice to save your life – that's the warning from the National Water Safety Forum as the UK experiences a significant cold snap
Cold temperatures have led to the freezing over of many inland waters, which can be a risk to life. Although frozen lakes, ponds, canals, rivers and lochs may look enticing, ice can be extremely unpredictable – it is impossible to tell how thick it is or if it can bear weight.
The warning comes in the wake of several fatalities in recent years, where sadly people lost their lives after falling through ice.
The National Water Safety Forum is aiming to educate the public about the dangers of frozen and icy waters and promote informed, safe outdoor activities during the colder months to prevent further tragedies. With some schools closing due to weather conditions, parents and carers are encouraged to share the warning with young people.
Professor Mike Tipton, Chair of the National Water Safety Forum, said: “Icy conditions present a unique set of risks and frozen waterways are a serious threat to life, increasing the chance of an accidental immersion and cold shock, which can kill in seconds. As with all risks, a little knowledge and consideration can make a lifesaving difference: the NWSF is providing this knowledge.”
Gavin Ellis, Water Safety Lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “Our message is simple: please stay off frozen lakes, rivers and canals. Ice is never safe, and what looks like fun can quickly turn into a life-threatening emergency. We urge parents and carers to speak to children about the dangers and help keep them safe this winter.
To keep yourself and your loved ones safe around water this winter, the National Water Safety Forum is urging everyone to follow this essential advice:
- Stay off the ice – ice thickness and water depth are variable and unpredictable
- Keep back from the edge – fallen leaves or snow might obscure the boundary, whilst ice makes things slippery underfoot
- Always supervise children – talk to them about the dangers of ice and never let them play on or near frozen water
- Keep dogs on a lead – prevent dogs from venturing onto the ice and don’t throw balls or sticks onto frozen water for them to fetch
What do in an emergency:
If someone falls through the ice:
- Do not go onto the ice yourself to attempt a rescue – instead, phone 999 immediately
- Tell the person in the water to stay calm and float on their back
- Look for nearby rescue equipment to throw, or try to reach them from solid ground with a branch or pole
- Try to keep your eyes on the person in the water at all times
- If you are able to get the person out safely, keep them warm with dry clothing and/ or shelter until the emergency services arrive
If a dog falls through the ice:
- Do not attempt a direct rescue – instead, encourage your pet to swim back to you so that you can lift them out
- If your pet cannot reach you, use a branch or pole to reach them without venturing onto the ice.
If you fall through the ice:
- Float on your back until you feel calm
- Shout for help when your breathing is under control
- Try to climb out by spreading your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you and pulling yourself out slowly
- If you cannot climb out, continue to float with your head clear of the water and wait for the emergency services
Read More >
18/12/2025
Message from the Chair
2025 has been a busy and productive year for the National Water Safety Forum. It has been a year of reshaping and refining structures, polices and processes, all with the view of optimising our ability to achieve our primary objective: reducing drowning.
Projects have included the establishment of Water Safety England (WSE) and the progression of Water Safety Northern Ireland (WSNI), as well as embedding a revised governance structure for the NWSF founded on three primary functions: data, education and communications.
All four nations are currently working on developing the next iteration of their drowning prevention strategies, with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together through the NWSF to define unifying principes that will govern the UK’s approach to drowning prevention once our current UK Drowning Prevention Strategy comes to end in July 2026.
We are also in the process of reviewing WAID to ensure the next iteration of the system is focussed and optimised to the needs of the NWSF and its members, whilst the NWSF has also undergone a review to streamline content and make it more accessible and useful, both to practitioners and the public.
I am proud of the level of progress the NWSF has made this year and believe our dedicated network is an excellent position to keep building on our lifesaving work in 2026.
National Water Safety Conference 2026: submit an abstract
The National Water Safety Conference 2026 will take place on Tuesday, 6 October, 2026, in Birmingham, providing a vital platform for water safety leaders, practitioners, educators and academics to come together, share knowledge, and shape the future of drowning prevention in the UK.
Register your interest
The abstract submission system is now open. We are inviting abstracts on the following topics:
- Evidence and data – research, analysis, and evaluation methods in water safety
- Education – innovative approaches to increasing knowledge, skills and experience in water safety, swimming and water competency
- Communication – campaigns, messaging, and public engagement strategies
- Policy – approaches to collaboration between government, landowner and other responsible parties as well as management of risks in and around water.
Before submitting your abstract, please take time to read the submission guidance. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on March 31, 2026.
Submit your conference abstract
World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025
Several members of Water Safety England and Water Safety Scotland attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention from November 21 to 23 in the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, the event brought together global and national experts, advocates, and volunteers to share knowledge and raise awareness about drowning prevention and water safety. Several of our members presented across the themes of Prevention, Policy, Rescue, Disaster and Swimming.
Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024: country stories
The World Health Organization will soon release its Country Stories document to complement the Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024. This publication highlights specific drowning prevention initiatives from member states. The UK was selected to feature under the Governance and Coordination intervention, showcasing the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) as a key case study for providing a collective voice on water safety across the UK. The report is expected to go live in the coming weeks and a link will be shared once available.
Campaigns
Don’t Drink and Drown and winter water safety from RLSS UK
As the festive season approaches, RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign returns with vital water safety advice to help partygoers stay safe on nights out, including guidance on avoiding risky routes home near water.
Learn more and access resources
RLSS UK will also promote general winter water safety messages until February 2026 to encourage everyone to stay safe during storms, flooding, and other winter weather events.
Find out more about Winter Water Safety
Date for your diary: International Aquaphobia Day, 7th February 2026
International Aquaphobia Day aims to raise awareness about the fear of water and its impact on non-swimmers. It is held annually on 7th February.
The day is supported by organisations like the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) and the Institute of Aquaphobia (IOA). The goal is to educate the public about how the aquatics industry can help people overcome a fear of water through specialist training – such as the Aquaphobia Learning Programme (ALP) – which focuses on building water confidence and desensitising fear.
Updates from the devolved nations
Water Safety England
New guidance on establishing Water Safety Partnerships in England
Water Safety England have published new guidance on setting up a successful Water Safety Partnership in England.
Using the Greater Manchester Water Safety Strategic Partnership as a case study, this document builds on existing 2024 guidance from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), setting out clear steps for local regions and areas to create and develop their own Water Safety Partnership in England.
Local regions and areas have a pivotal role to play in drowning prevention. By establishing a collaborative Water Safety Partnership, they can effectively utilise local knowledge and expertise to reduce fatalities, whilst ensuring a link to national strategic direction.
It is acknowledged that the local authority landscape in England is complex and so this guidance aims to help regions in England develop partnerships based upon national insight and the successful experiences of the Greater Manchester Water Safety Strategic Partnership.
Read the guidance the NWSF website.
How to propose a project for Water Safety England
Water Safety England now has a project process in place, allowing both members and non-members to propose projects under one of our key functions (data, education and communications) and aligning to our strategic objectives. If you would like to learn more, please email the Secretariat at info@watersafetyengland.org.uk.
Water Safety Scotland
Scotland Drowning Prevention Strategy Consultation
The first draft of the next iteration of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy was sent out to Water Safety Scotland (WSS) membership for consultation from 10 November to 8 December. The draft was compiled through the Strategy Subgroup with input from WSS’s subgroup members.
Alcohol safety
Scotland’s Water Safety Code has been successfully cobranded with Best Bar None Scotland. Copies of the cobranded code have been distributed to local representatives across Scotland, with WSS’s alcohol safety social media assets cobranded and shared with Best Bar None partners and premises across Scotland. These resources are a valuable tool in educating the public on the dangers of drinking alcohol near bodies of water and provide them with the means of keeping themselves safe.
Annual Information Exchange 2025
On the 1 October, Water Safety Scotland (WSS) hosted its Annual Information Exchange meeting in Edinburgh. Around seven members, including WSS Steering Group, were in attendance. The meeting primarily involved discussions regarding the next remit of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy. Thanks to all those who attended and for all of your contributions.
Policy Webinar
On the 22 October, WSS hosted a Policy Workshop designed to help local authorities understand water safety policy creation and implementation by sharing key information and advice. Ten local authorities were represented with 12 individual attendees.
Partner updates
Boats can be replaced – people can’t: powerful new testimonial from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
A powerful new video testimonial has been published this month as part of the MCA’s ongoing work to improve safety within the commercial fishing industry, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous occupations.
The video features skipper Bruce recounting an incident last year in which he and his five crew were on board a 23m fishing vessel when it capsized out of the blue in the early hours of a foggy October morning. They were in the North Sea, about 140 miles from land. Thankfully their regular training, drilling and preparation ensured all of them lived to see another day.
Watch the video or read the full story on the MCA website.
As part of the Home and Dry Safety Forum, the MCA works with other stakeholders with a focus on improving the safety of commercial fishing at sea. The “Home and Dry” campaign shares vital information and guidance on fishing safety for anyone who owns or works on a commercial fishing vessel. The goal is to ensure fishermen and all crew get back to their loved ones, home and dry.
New riverside safety guidance from the Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority (PLA) have released “A Safer Riverside”, an new handbook of guidance designed to help local councils and landowners within the Tidal Thames area improve safety infrastructure on riverbanks, including the architecture and maintenance of riverside areas and the provision of safety equipment.
The guidance highlights the importance of features such as grab chains and offers examples of good design from around the world. Building the right safety infrastructure can reduce the pressure on the emergency services and ultimately save lives.
The PLA are working with developers to ensure they follow the guidance, promoting public safety and drowning prevention.
Read the guidance
Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum publish refreshed drowning prevention strategy
The Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum have refreshed their drowning prevention strategy for the Tidal Thames, with the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of drownings on the Thames with key policy makers, stakeholders and the general public
- Reduce accidental drowning through understanding incidents and audiences, and using communications, campaigns, education and outreach to target audiences most at risk
- Reduce suicides and self-harm through understanding incidents and audience, supporting the expansion of Bridge Watch and promoting intervention training.
- Maintain and improve the Search and Rescue response to incidents on the river.
Read More >
