A SERIES of tragedies in which 30 people across the UK have died in water-related incidents has prompted a fresh plea for people to take extra care in and around water.

The plea was made by the ‘Open Water Safety Group’ set up earlier this year by Darlington Borough Council, Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and other partners to raise awareness of the dangers and promote water safety.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Councillor Jonathan Dulston, the council’s deputy leader, said: “It’s heart-breaking that there has been so many tragic incidents in recent weeks and our condolences go out to all those affected.

“These tragedies clearly illustrate the dangers open water poses and we would urge everyone to take extra care.”

“Even on warm days, open water is extremely cold and can cause cold water shock, which can kill. There may also be unseen dangers beneath the water such as objects or strong currents.”

READ MORE: County Durham residents urged to be water safe this summer

The group urges people to follow the water safety advice below:

  • Never let your children go near water, without being accompanied by an adult. An adult can point out dangers or help if someone gets into trouble.
  • Never jump in or suddenly immerse yourself in cold water as the shock could kill you.
  • Look out for warning signs and follow their instructions.
  • Learn how to help in an emergency - if you see someone in difficulty: Shout for help, go to the nearest telephone, dial 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.
  • Remember 999 calls on mobiles will find any network signal, even if your own network isn’t covered.

Download the ‘what3words’ app on your phone – this gives emergency services your exact location, even if you are in a remote spot, and will help them reach you more quickly. Do it now before you forget.

The multi-agency group aims to build on existing work and develop a water safety strategy for the borough to ensure consistent guidance for the safe management of activities in, on or around water in support of the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) strategy that aims to reduce the number of drowning fatalities.

The group includes Darlington Borough Council, Durham Constabulary, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Darlington Community Safety Partnership, North East Ambulance Service, Tees Rivers Trust, Royal Life Saving Society UK, Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Search and Rescue and other partners.

More information and useful tips on water safety can be found on the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) website at www.rlss.org.uk

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