Stay Safe Around Water This Bank Holiday Weekend

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents and visitors to take extra care around water this bank holiday weekend as people enjoy outdoor activities across the county and beyond.

While warmer weather may encourage people to spend time near rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the coast, water can be unpredictable and dangerous. Even on warm days, water temperatures can remain dangerously cold.

The Council is urging people to follow simple safety advice:

• Speak to young people about the dangers of open water.
• Swim only in supervised locations.
• Never jump into water to cool off.
• Plan before you go. Check weather forecasts and tide times, tell someone where you are going, take a mobile phone and wear appropriate equipment.
• Install location apps such as what3words to help emergency services find you quickly in an emergency.
• Avoid entering the water if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as these can affect judgement and increase risk.
• Learn how to help yourself and others in a water-related emergency.
• If you see someone in difficulty, do not enter the water to attempt a rescue. Call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard at the coast or Fire and Rescue Service inland.
• If you unexpectedly find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and control your breathing, move your hands to help you stay afloat, and only swim when you can control your breathing.

We want everyone to enjoy the bank holiday weekend safely. Water can be dangerous, even during warm weather, so we encourage everyone to take sensible precautions, plan ahead and familiarise themselves with water safety advice. Knowing what to do in an emergency could save a life.

For more information about water safety and the Float to Live campaign, visit the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) website on - https://rnli.org/water-safety/float