THE importance of water safety awareness has been stressed by the Scottish Government to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.
At an event at the Kelpies in Falkirk, Community Safety Minister Ash Regan discussed preparedness and witnessed water safety demonstration with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and first responders were also in attendance.
Regan said: “I welcome the opportunity to support the World Health Organisation’s World Drowning Prevention Day.
“We are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and surrounded by waterways that can appear tempting during hot weather.
“But it’s vitally important people exercise extreme caution if venturing into open water and that they heed all of the safety advice. Entering any waterway has an element of risk and can have tragic consequences.”
In 2021, 58 people died after getting into difficulty in Scottish Waters whilst this summer has seen at least four accidental drowning deaths.
According to the Water Incident Database, 277 people accidentally drowned in 2021 in the UK with almost 50% of these – 130 – took place in the summer months when the good weather sees more people swimming in open water.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, six people had to be rescued after torrential rain hit camping spots around Loch Lomond.
Regan continued: “The Scottish Government takes the issue of water safety very seriously and our sympathies remain with everyone affected by the tragedy of a water fatality.
“We work closely with Water Safety Scotland (WSS) and other partners, including local councils, Police Scotland, RoSPA, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to implement and support initiatives that can help raise awareness of the hazards around water and reduce deaths from accidental drowning.
“I have witnessed today work to prevent water tragedies from occurring but this is never a substitute for adhering to safety advice when in and around cold water.”
