01/05/2019
‘Cautious optimism’ as the trend towards a reduction of deaths in water continues.
The most recent figures from the National Water Safety Forum Water Incident Database (WAID) show that in 2018, 263 people lost their lives in accidental drownings in the UK.
Despite a small increase in the number of drownings since 2017 the overall trends suggest reason for ‘cautious optimism’.
Deaths from accidental drowning have fallen in the three years since the National Drowning Prevention Strategy was launched. However the figure show a rise in the number of suicides in water.
In 2018, as in previous years, men are disproportionately represented in the statistics, with 230 males dying in fatal drowning incidents in the UK.
River and beaches continue to be the most common locations for fatal drowning incidents. Last year, 74 people drowned in rivers and 73 on or near beaches.
Chairman of National Water Safety Forum, George Rawlinson,said:
“We are past the three year mark of the National Drowning Prevention Strategy and it is clear that members of the National Water Safety Forum and many other organisations are making good progress throughout the country to keep people informed of the risks, and working together to prevent drowning.
“The overall reduction over the three years is a good indicator that our efforts are paying off and fewer people and families are affected by drowning, but there remains much to be done in order to meet the collective ambition of a future without drowning.”
WAID compiles statistics from across the UK from a number of sources including inquests, and breaks these down into deaths by activity, age, location type and geography, to give those working in prevention a clearer idea of where to target interventions.
A full copy of the UK Annual Fatal Incident Report for 2018 can be viewed at: www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/waid/reports-and-data/
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19/09/2018
The Ministry of Justice is consulting on proposals to establish an independent public advocate who will act for bereaved families after a public disaster.
This consultation is aimed at people who have been bereaved or otherwise affected by a public disaster; the organisations that support them; organisations and services involved in investigating disasters; and anyone else affected by or with an interest in the issues in this consultation.
The consultation closes on 3 Dec 2018.
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04/05/2018
The number, from the Forum’s Water Incident Database (WAID), represents two-fifths (41 per cent) of the overall number of deaths in water that year (592) and includes 13 cases in which natural causes of death were suspected or confirmed. Other causes include suicide (209), crime (5), and cases in which the cause was not recorded or confirmed (123).
As in previous years, men (217) are disproportionately represented in the statistics, with young and middle-aged males being particularly affected.
The majority of incidents occurred at the coast/shore/beach (68) or on rivers (64). As in previous years, a large proportion of those who died did so while taking part in an activity in which they never intended to be in the water – 106 people drowned while walking or running.
WAID compiles statistics from across the UK from a number of sources, including inquests, and breaks these down into deaths by activity, age, location type and geography, to give those working in prevention a clearer idea of where to target interventions.
View a full copy of the UK Annual Fatal Incident Report 2017
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18/07/2017
"Knowing what to do if someone accidentally falls in cold water could mean the difference between life and death.” – Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board
Swimming and classroom lessons should teach children about the dangers of cold water shock, as new figures show a 25 per cent rise in the number of young people drowning accidentally, council leaders urged today.
With school holidays approaching and current warm weather, the Local Government Association (LGA) is warning how even strong and confident swimmers can struggle and drown after jumping into cold and unpredictable seas, rivers, canals and lakes where temperatures can be as low as 15C in the summer – half that of typical swimming pools heated to 30C.
The LGA is also urging the Government to make “near-miss” statistics – sourced from fire and rescue service data – available for inclusion in the Water Incident Database to improve its effectiveness, as these figures are currently excluded from it. Councils believe this will help to identify the scale and nature of risk, which could be understated.
You can see the post in full on the LGA website.
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