Water Safety
Every year, in the UK, around 400 people die from drowning as a result of an accident in or around water.
Half of accidental drownings in the UK occur when people didn't intend to go in the water, so simple steps to raise awareness of the risks around water and how they can be reduced will help prevent these deaths.
National Water Safety Forum
The National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is a UK-wide association of organisations that have interests in and responsibilities for water safety including sports governing bodies, rescue services, regulators, navigation and harbour authorities, local government, utilities, and other representative groups.
The forum has produced Water Safety Principles. For more information, click here.
The forum has also produced its UK Drowning Prevention Strategy 2016-26, which aims to reduce accidental drowning fatalities in the UK by 50 per cent by 2026, and reduce risk among the highest risk populations, groups and communities.
Water Safety Toolkit
Councils, as community leaders, play a vital role in tackling water safety in their area. Landowners as well as wider responsibilities. The LGA has produced a water safety toolkit for councils, to ensure both locals and visitors enjoy the natural environment safely whether on the coast or inland.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
Read our advice here for staying safe near open or flood water.