Phone, float, throw; Watch as firefighters issue open water warning ahead of school holidays
Members of the public were able to practise how to rescue a casualty from the water
Wearside firefighters have issued a warning to parents and children about the dangers of swimming in open water as they put on a demonstration of what people should do if they get into difficulties whilst swimming in lakes, rivers or the sea.
As part of ‘Be Water Aware Week’ firefighters from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service were in Durham City where they were demonstrating how to float on your back if you get into difficulty and how to throw a life ring to help someone in distress.
Passers-by and Durham city bar staff were also given the chance to try throwing a life ring under the guidance of firefighters as part of the water-safety initiative.
With temperatures on the rise and the half-term and summer school holidays only weeks away, the campaign aims to raise awareness of water safety and the dangers of accidental drowning.
Durham Station Manager Gary Tough said: “Knowing what to do if you see someone in trouble in the water could save their life.
“To mark Be Water Aware Week, our firefighters have been at Durham riverside demonstrating how to use a life ring to rescue someone in the water.
“The crew have also been showing the public how to float on their back if they ever find themselves in difficulty.
“It only takes a moment for an accident to happen, so we have been urging the public to remember the slogan, ‘phone, float, throw,’ to help them act quickly in an emergency.
“We need people to immediately call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service, tell the person in the water to stay calm and float on their back and then throw rescue equipment, such as a life ring to help them float.
“However, it is so important that people never enter the water themselves to help a person or a pet in distress.”
The event took place on the banks of the River Wear, with firefighters warning about the dangers of cold water shock in open water such as rivers, reservoirs, and lakes, which can increase the risk of inhaling water and drowning.
Station Manager Tough added: “We are urging the public not to be tempted to take a dip in open water spots such as rivers and lakes, no matter how tempting they may look.
“If you are a parent or a guardian, please keep a close eye on children near water at all times.”
Firefighters in County Durham have carried out 19 water rescues in the last year.