We would like to draw the attention of readers to the following  Royal National Lifeboat Institution(RNLI), Mineral Products Association(MPA), Port Skills and Safety(PSS) and fellow members Water Safety Campaign below:

DROWNING PREVENTION WEEK

Drowning Prevention Week Campaign 

“Drowning Prevention Week (DPW), this year is running from 12-19 June. The aim of the campaign is to help everybody across the UK and Ireland to #BeALifesaver and take charge of their own destiny to enjoy the water, safely.

Created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the campaign is now it’s 7^th year and over that time the charity has gained an ever-increasing amount of support to educate individuals and families, at a time of the year that is most crucial. Across the UK and Ireland, there is a spike in fatal drowning incidents during the summer months. The charity is increasingly concerned this summer as the impact of COVID-19 is far-reaching and has resulted in reduced beach lifeguard services and supervised venues.

This year is a positive effort to give individuals and families the skills and knowledge they require to enjoy the water, safely.

Last year during Drowning Prevention Week, RLSS UK and their incredible supporters achieved:

• A reach of 2 million people with practical water safety messaging
• A reach of 18 million through PR and Social Media
• Delivery of education in 639 Schools
• Delivery of water safety lessons in 1650 Leisure Centre

Thank you to everybody who through last years DPW educated the UK and Irish public, helping us to save lives.

Be part of this great movement and get involved in DPW 2020 #BeALifesaver #DPW

The Devastating Impact of Drowning

This film features families that have affected by drowning, to raise awareness of the impact on families and friends.”

CLICK HERE TO KNOW HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN

Mineral Products Association(MCA)

“Royal National Lifeboat Institution(RNLI) lifeguards would usually be starting to patrol the UK’s beaches around now. But, because of coronavirus, we had to suspend our lifeguard programme. This means there are currently no RNLI lifeguards on beaches. And by the summer, we’ll only be able to patrol around 30% of our usual beaches.

As lockdown restrictions in England have been eased, families have begun flocking to our beaches again. It’s vital that people keep an eye on their families if our lifeguards can’t be there.

So, from Thursday 21 May and throughout the summer, the RNLI and HM Coastguard will be sharing important beach safety messages with families visiting the coast:

BEACH LIFEGUARDS CAN’T BE EVERYWHERE THIS SUMMER.

• PROTECT YOUR FAMILY
• FOLLOW SAFETY ADVICE
• SAVE LIVES

IN AN EMERGENCY DIAL 999 FOR THE COASTGUARD.

You can find our beach safety advice at ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION

To save lives, we need to share these messages with as many families as possible. That’s why we’re asking for your help. Here’s what you can do:

• Share the campaign image in a social media post – you can download the correctly sized images for Twitter, Facebook/Instagram posts and stories here
• Send a tweet using the image and copying and pasting the words below:

The @RNLI’s lifeguards can’t be everywhere this summer. If you’re heading to the coast, #BeBeachSafe: check the weather and tides, keep an eye on your family and don’t use inflatables. In an emergency call 999 for the Coastguard. Find safety advice at https://bit.ly/RNLI_Beach_Safety

• If you can share as part of a Facebook/Instagram post or story, please use this link: https://bit.ly/_RNLI_Beach_Safety
• Or, if you can simply share the RNLI’s posts, that’d be great. We’ll be posting on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook from Thursday 21 May and throughout the summer.

If you’d like to know more about the RNLI’s work and how you can support us, please contact Mike Carhart-Harris in the RNLI media team on 07780 229473.

Your help could save lives this summer and would be immensely appreciated.

Thank you”

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Tackling Tombstoning at the Port of Milford Haven

Each summer, like many other ports and harbours, the Port of Milford Haven encounters problems with young people tombstoning into the water close to busy shipping areas. It is well documented by the Coastguard, RNLI and other authorities that, aside from the hazards brought about by being near to commercial shipping, tombstoning is an extremely dangerous activity with many other risks such as submerged objects, strong currents and cold water shock. 

With safety being the Port’s highest priority, much work is undertaken to prevent tombstoning through educating young people about the dangers it poses and signposting to other ways to enjoy the water safely.

Since 2014, the Port has collaborated with multiple agencies to deliver the WAVE event which sees attendees take part in interactive workshops, watch a simulated water rescue where a casualty is injured as a result of jumping, followed by taster sessions in activities such as kayaking and paddle boarding so that they learn how to enjoy the water safely.

During 2017 and 2018, the Port worked with Cardiff Harbour Authority, which experiences similar tombstoning issues, as well as Arts & Business Cymru to commission a play named ‘Would You Jump?’ that was performed to almost 1,000 pupils in Milford Haven and Cardiff. This was a hugely successful initiative which went on to win a national Arts & Business Cymru Award.

The Port can and does enforce its bye-laws in order to stop people from risking their lives at Milford Marina. If anyone commits offences under Sections 33 and 34 of the Milford Docks Company Act 1981 they will be pursued through the civil courts and be liable for a £50 fine.

Weymouth RNLI lifeboat aids tombstoning casualties

• Lifeboat launched from Solent Coastguard to aid several people in need of medical assistance after tombstoning off of the arch at Durdle Door Beach, full details below.

WEYMOUTH THREE TOMBSTONING CASUALTIES

Jumping into the sea from height, or ‘tombstoning’ is extremely dangerous. The water may be shallower than it looks. Submerged rocks may not be visible – these can cause serious injury or paralysis. The shock of cold water can make it difficult to swim, and a strong tidal flow can easily sweep a person away.