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.
READ MORE: New water safety campaign for Scotland’s beaches
“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.
READ MORE: Cold water shock warnings issued as heat rockets in Scotland
“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.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here