RNLI urges people to put water safety advice into action during hot weather

With a period of hot weather forecast this week, the RNLI is urging people heading to the coast or inland waterways such as lakes, rivers or canals, to follow essential water safety advice, which could save lives.

The RNLI is appealing to people to remember and share its water safety advice with family and friends, particularly young people and teenagers, as schools prepare to break for summer.

The charity is sharing lifesaving guidance on what to do if you find yourself in danger in the water, what to do if you see someone else struggling, the importance of understanding key risks such as cold water shock, and how to stay safe by choosing a lifeguarded beach.

Nadia Blanchfield from the RNLI’s Water Safety Delivery Support says that knowing what to do in an emergency can make a vital difference.

“If you do find yourself in trouble in the water, we say Float to Live,” Nadia explains. “Roll over onto your back so you’re lying on your back, tilt your head back with your ears under the water. It’s okay if your legs sink — everybody floats differently, but we can all float.”

She says the priority is to get breathing under control before trying to get help.

“Once you have your breathing under control, you can then call for help by raising an arm into the air in a closed fist and shouting for help, or you can swim to safety at that point.”

The RNLI also wants people to remember what to do if they see someone else in difficulty in the water.

“If you see somebody in trouble in the water, what we say is Phone, Float and Throw,” Nadia says. “Never enter the water after somebody.”

Instead, people should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard, tell the person who is struggling to Float to Live, and then throw them something that floats, such as a lifering or anything else nearby that can help keep them afloat.

The RNLI is also encouraging families to talk about the dangers of swimming and jumping into open water with younger family members and friends.

“We are also encouraging them to share our free downloadable social media videos and posts, which will help us to reach a younger audience with vital lifesaving advice which could save lives in coastal and inland waters,” the charity says.

Choose a lifeguarded beach

Nadia also highlighted the importance of choosing a beach where lifeguards are on duty.

“In the Wexford area, we are lucky we have a number of lifeguarded beaches,” she says. “Up the north of the county we have Ballymoney, then we have Curracloe, Morriscastle, Ballinesker, Rosslare and Carne. Near us in the Fethard area we have Duncannon Beach and Baginbun.”

“Choose a lifeguarded beach. These are where the lifeguards are on duty and you should swim between the red and yellow flags.”

Nadia explains that the area between the flags is the section the lifeguards have assessed and marked as the safest place to swim.

“Outside these flags can be dangerous. There may be hazards under the water or currents, and the lifeguards are patrolling between the flags where they have identified safe spots to swim.”

Understanding cold water shock

The RNLI is also reminding people that warm weather does not mean the sea is warm.

“With this hot weather, we want people to remember the dangers of cold water shock,” Nadia says. “Our seas rarely go above 15 degrees Celsius.”

“Despite the weather being in the mid to high 20s even at the minute, this cold water is cold enough to trigger cold water shock.”

She explains that cold water shock can happen quickly and have serious effects.

“This can cause uncontrollable gasping, your heart rate to increase and it can lead to panic and drowning very quickly.”

The RNLI advises people to enter the water slowly and allow their bodies to adjust.

“We would suggest that you enter the water slowly and acclimatise gradually.”

The RNLI’s key water safety messages:

If you find yourself in trouble in the water — Float to Live

• Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
• Relax and try to breathe normally
• Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
• It’s OK if your legs sink — everyone floats differently
• Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety

If you see someone else in trouble — Phone, Float, Throw

• Phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard
• Tell the person struggling to Float to Live
• Throw them something that floats, such as a lifering

Free downloadable Float to Live social media assets are available from the RNLI to help share these lifesaving messages.

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