Hot Weather, Higher Risk: Water Safety Messages

Temperatures are set to rise this week, reaching over 30°C between Tuesday and Thursday. The Met Office has issued both Red and Amber heat warnings across parts of England, with an Amber warning in place for the pan-Lancashire area on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Met Office has advised that this period of extreme heat is likely to bring impacts for the general population, not just those who are more vulnerable to heat. The warning also highlights that significantly more people may visit coastal areas, lakes and rivers, and use paddling pools which could increase the risk of water safety incidents. Previous periods of hot weather, alongside research from the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and the NCMD, have shown a clear link between higher temperatures and an increased risk of drowning.

Please support the sharing of key water safety messages with your networks, partners and communities. Please find attached the communications brief circulated ahead of Drowning Prevention Week; the social media messages included can be used throughout the year, not only during campaign periods.

In particular, please help promote:

• Float To Live - Please signpost your teams and partners to download the campaign toolkit here, with all the digital assets available on the Float To Live website here.
• Cold water shock awareness - The reminder that while it may be hot on land, the water can still be cold enough to trigger cold water shock
• Phone, Float, Throw – What to do if you see someone else in difficulty in the water. Phone Float Throw – Respect The Water