RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
August 29, 2003
BID TO PREVENT ANOTHER SUMMER OF WATER TRAGEDIES
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today called for help in averting another summer of drowning deaths after the heat-wave led to a catalogue of tragedies.
RoSPA said lessons must be learned quickly if there was not to be a repeat of the accidents seen at almost all types of water in recent months.
The Society is staging a national congress in Brighton so that people responsible for inland waters, beaches and swimming pools can benefit from one another’s experiences.
It wants managers and water safety experts to tell others how they have combated the drowning problem at the sites for which they have responsibility.
The conference – Preventing Tragedies: Lessons Learned - will be held at the Hilton West Pier Hotel on March 29 and 30, 2004. People willing to speak about their successes, and even failures, are urged to contact RoSPA by October 24.
Peter Cornall, RoSPA Water and Leisure Manager, said: “The long spell of hot weather this summer appears to have significantly increased the number of drowning fatalities. Climate change caused by global warming could mean we have more summers like this to come.
“Sadly, good weather can mean bad news in terms of water safety. People are out and about enjoying themselves for longer periods and often choose dangerous places for a dip to cool off. We have to keep emphasising that the only safe place to swim is at a properly supervised swimming pool or supervised beach, but it is a tough message to get across in hot weather.
“There will be many inland and coastal waters where safety has been managed successfully. We want the people responsible for them to help others to get it right. Well-managed swimming pools that attract people in summer obviously have an important role to play in water safety, and we also need to hear how they have been successful. Researchers too, who have the facts that can assist in making decisions, are welcome to play their part as well as makers of water safety products.”
The conference will help to develop the structure for the future role of water safety in the UK.
Prospective speakers should send an outline of their presentation (no more than 500 words) to Peter Cornall, Water and Leisure Manager, RoSPA, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7ST or pcornall@rospa.com
