27/06/2023
Message from the Chair
World Drowning Prevention Day (WDPD) is an opportunity for all agencies, charities and advocates who are passionate about water safety and drowning prevention. The campaign, which takes place annually on 25 July and is co-ordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), ensures a continuing spotlight on the issue of drowning and drowning prevention across the globe, and the UK National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is committed to supporting it.
The WHO’s call to action, which you can read more about below, is designed to be inclusive, regardless of whether you’re already involved in promoting drowning prevention, or it’s the first time if you or your organisation are supporting a water safety campaign.
The WHO’s call to action is encapsulated in the strapline:
DO ONE THING, IMPROVE ONE THING, ADD ONE THING
NWSF already shares data on drowning, and develops guidance and delivers campaigns on drowning prevention, supported by advocacy work through its strategy, plan, advisory groups and projects. This year, we want to add this special newsletter to share more about our work and to highlight the importance of partnership.
To reduce drowning, we must proactively collaborate.
Dawn Whittaker
NWSF Chair
World Drowning Prevention Day (WDPD)
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WDPD, declared in the April 2021 UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/273 “Global drowning prevention”, is held annually on 25 July. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the devastating and profound impact of drowning on families and communities, and offers life-saving solutions to prevent such tragedies.
In this third WDPD, the WHO is asking countries and partners to respond to the call to action for global drowning prevention:
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Do one thing
If you’re not yet involved in drowning prevention, just do one thing to support.
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Improve one thing
If you’ve already started to work in your area on drowning prevention, then improve one thing.
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Add one thing
If you’re deeply engaged with drowning prevention, add one thing – there’s always more that can be done.
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Access the WHO WDPD resource materials and campaign page here and specific 2023 materials here
Watch the recording of the WHO-led WDPD 2023 information webinar, which took place on 22 May 2023 (Passcode: HwKq3a*j)
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NWSF-led WDPD 2023 webinar
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NWSF hosted a webinar on 26 June covering the UK’s plans to support WDPD 2023. If you missed it, watch the recording here.
The slides of the webinar can be found here.
All the links and further updates can be found on the NWSF WDPD web page here.
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As the NWSF works with a broad range of organisations and partners, we want to share the powerful work that so many organisations are doing across the board to reduce drowning fatalities.
1. Decide how you are going to support WDPD through the ‘Do, Improve and Add one thing’ call from WHO – watch the recording and read the slides for ideas.
2. Please let us know what you/your group/your organisation are doing to support World Drowning Prevention Day by completing this short survey. In particular, if your event is in England, please let us know so that we can offer media the opportunity to attend.
3. After WDPD - share your stories and photos with us across the day, especially if you're going blue for WDPD. We want to show the positive impact our partners have across the UK. If you have an example of how drowning prevention education has made a difference to an individual or community, please email us at info@nationalwatersafety.org.uk.
Thank you for your continued support in raising awareness of water safety and drowning prevention.
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Read More >
21/07/2022
Dear all,
The UK’s National Water Safety Forum is coming together to launch its first ever campaign, Respect The Water, in response the World Health Organisation (WHO) call to ‘do one thing’ to prevent drowning ahead of the second ever United Nations (UN) World Drowning Prevention Day on Monday 25th July.
The campaign focuses on who to call if you see someone struggling in the water, reminding the public that for inland locations you should call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service, but for coastal locations you should call 999 and ask for Coastguard.
As part of this lifesaving campaign, we are releasing a new & impactful water safety advert which will be shown on ITV on World Drowning Prevention Day, together with targeted advertising in high drowning areas using catch up TV, outdoor posters and social media. There will also be a significant PR push to secure media coverage during the campaign to amplify these important messages to the public at the height of summer.
For a full run through of the campaign you can watch a recorded briefing here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrmHLZo7Z5Q
Key activity
- Launch of the TV advert on 25 July with adverts to be shown on ITV (Good Morning Britain – 7:40am, ITV Lunchtime News – 1:52pm, ITV Early Evening News – 6:45pm, Coronation Street – Various between 8:15 – 8:45pm)
- ‘Make the right call' outdoor banners at the following confirmed locations: Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool ,Boston/Lincoln, London, Newcastle, Bath , Argyll & Bute, Glasgow, Tenby, Haverfordwest, Conwy
- A new The Respect the Water website will go live on 25 July, with campaign content and film: https://www.respectthewater.com
- A national press release will go out on 25th July to highlight the campaign as well as targeted media opportunities. Several spokespeople will be available including NWSF Chair for interviews. The PR will also be available on the NWSF blog.
- Several tweets and social media post are in place from the weekend via the NWSF twitter account – please retweet, share and like (the suggested posts are the end of this post)
- Approximately 45 locations across the UK will be going blue and tying into the Respect The Water Campaign. Please send us any details or info on any areas you know going blue to info@nationalwatersafety.org.uk
How to get involved in the campaign
- Use the hashtags #RespectTheWater and #DrowningPrevention Day
- Over the next few days and into the weekend, post the suggested campaign preview messages (below)
- On the 25th, directly post a copy or share the social media posts from @NWSFweb
- Share your going blue images, event images and videos
On behalf of the National Water Safety Forum communications and coordinating groups - we hope that you have a successful World Drowning Prevention Day and look forward to seeing your images and stories.
Social media suggestions
Suggested messages for NWSF members for the launch of our Respect The Water campaign on 25 July 2022.
All the campaign content will be available at www.respectthewater.com from this weekend, if you are a social media manger or need access to content earlier please drop a us a line.
These can be tweaked for individual organisations.
22- 24th Leading up to the day
- We’re supporting the @NWSFweb campaign #RespectTheWater which launches on 25 July, World #DrowningPrevention Day. We’ll be sharing lifesaving info about what to do in an emergency
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- On 25 July it’s World #DrowningPrevention Day and we’ll be supporting the @NWSFweb new campaign #RespectTheWater. Learn more here
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- Last year, 277 people died from accidental drowning in the UK. This is 277 too many. Support new campaign #RespectTheWater on 25 July World #DrowningPrevention Day
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25th On the day
- It’s World #DrowningPrevention Day and we’re supporting @NWSFweb new #RespectTheWater campaign. Watch the film and tell us what you think [inset film link]
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- On World #DrowningPrevention Day we’re supporting #RespectTheWater from @NWSFweb. Make the right call in an emergency – call 999 [inset link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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- As a member of @NWSFweb, we’re supporting their new campaign #RespectTheWater. Watch this film to see what to do in a water emergency [inset link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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- Would you know what to do in a water emergency? Watch this film from @NWSFweb campaign #RespectTheWater to find out [inset link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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- If you see someone struggling in the water, fight your instincts to get in. Call 999. Ask for Coastguard at the coast, Fire Service inland. #RespectTheWater [insert link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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Days/week after tweets
- Would you know what to do in a water emergency? Watch this film from @NWSFweb campaign #RespectTheWater to find out [inset link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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- Make the right call – call 999. Don’t get in the water to save your friends. A rescue for 1 could be a search for 2. #RespectTheWater [insert link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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- Xxxxxx was lucky that his Dad called 999 rather than jump in after him when he got into trouble in the sea. Make the right call – call 999 #RespectTheWater [insert link to case study]
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Softer touch tweets
- The water is a lovely place to spend time, but we all need to know how to stay safe. It’s World #DrowningPrevention Day and we’re supporting #RespectTheWater from @NWSFweb
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- Docks and reservoirs are lovely places to spend time, but #RespectTheWater and look out for your friends. [inset link to film on YouTube or NWSF webpage]
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Read More >