Be water safe this summer

School has now broken up for the summer holidays, and everyone is hoping the sun will make an appearance so summer can finally begin.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is keen for everyone to enjoy the summer months and be safe around water.

From 25 July, the date of the annual World Drowning Prevention Day, the Council, along with partners from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS), Cheshire Police, Northwest Underwater Search Unit, Canal and River Trust, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Brio Leisure will be running a series of water safety events across the borough for communities to engage with:

The Groves, Chester on 25 July, from 11am to 2pm to support World Drowning Prevention Day.

Civic Way, Ellesmere Port (by the library) on 26 July, from 10am to 3pm.

Barons Quay, Northwich (near Asda) on 2 August, from 10am to 3pm.

The Groves, Chester on 9 August, from 10am to 3pm.

These events will display the range of activity delivered by partners around the borough’s waterways and seek to raise awareness of the risks associated with bodies of water and what people can do to keep safe.

During these events there will be demonstrations of water rescue deployments, the boats used by CFRS and the Northwest Underwater Search Unit, personal protective equipment used by agencies, and training on how to use emergency water rescue equipment. There will also be water safety related challenges available for people to participate in.

These events build on other activities partners have been working on in preparation for the summer, such as a local Water Responder Scheme, which the RNLI have been developing with CFRS. This scheme provides training to businesses operating in close proximity to bodies of water on how to identify risks in water, prevent people getting into difficulty and how to use throwline equipment issued to them to perform a rescue in an emergency.

Would you know what to do if you got into difficulty in the water?

The advice is to float by following these five simple steps – it could save your life.

1. Tilt your head back (with ears submerged).
2. Relax (and try to breathe normally).
3. Move your hands to help you stay afloat.
4. It's OK if your legs sink (we all float differently).
5. Spread your arms and legs to improve stability.

Councillor Christine Warner, Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities said:

“I’m delighted that these multi-agency events involving a wide range of partners are going to help raise awareness of water safety. 

“Whether you are going on a seaside summer holiday, planning trips out to enjoy the countryside, or your children will be out playing with their friends locally, everyone needs to know how to keep themselves safe in and around the water.

“Please come along to one of our events to find tips on how to keep you and your loved ones safe.  Safety equipment demonstrations are planned at the events, so you can learn first-hand what to do in an emergency.

“I hope sunshine arrives for us all and everyone enjoys a safe and enjoyable summer.”

Station Manager Ryan Swindells, the CFRS lead for water safety, said:

“We are committed to doing all we can to keep people safe around water and would urge as many people as possible to attend one of the water safety events.

“The Water Responder scheme is one of several initiatives we are working on with partners across the county to achieve our aim.”