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HWFRS is making waves with this year’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign

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Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service will be making a splash this month by giving full support to Drowning Prevention Week 2020.

Drowning Prevention Week, created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) will see a deluge of water safety activity flood the UK and Ireland from 12-19 June, 2020.

The national campaign aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water, and a host of free resources have been produced to help supporters promote water safety.

More than 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year, that’s one every 10 hours, and many more suffer injury, sometimes life-changing, when they survive drowning. And drowning is a leading cause of accidental death among children.

Over the last 10 years, HWFRS has attended more than 450 incidents In Herefordshire and Worcestershire involving a rescue or evacuation from water.

Sadly, 38 of these incidents resulted in fatalities and of these, where an age was recorded, more than half of those who perished were either under 30 or over 70.

HWFRS is proud to play its part in trying to reduce this figure.

Much of the HWFRS prevention activity this week will take place around Gullet Quarry, near Malvern, a popular gathering place during warm weather.

“There have been five fatalities in the last 14 years at Gullet Quarry,” said Station Commander Stewart Dewar from Malvern Fire Station. “And there are many dangers to remember.

“Cold water shock, which can affect you on even the warmest days, is indiscriminate and will affect all age groups. There are also other hazards such as hidden objects beneath the surface of the water, which you would not be able to see.”

Station Commander Steve Andrews from the HWFRS Community Risk department said: “It is so important to remind people to stay safe near water, especially at this high-risk time of year. We are only too happy to be involved with Drowning Prevention Week.”

Read more about the Royal Life Saving Society’s Drowning Prevention week here.

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