Revellers in towns and city centres across the region are being warned to act responsibly near water during their night out in the run up to Christmas.
As part of the national Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, run by the UK’s drowning prevention charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), drinkers in Hull, Grimsby and Bridlington are being urged not to walk home near bodies of water after they have been out drinking.
Over the last five years there have been 1,481 accidental deaths in the UK and more than 30% of the victims were found to have alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream.
Hull city centre has seen many tragedies down the years as revellers have entered the water in Princes Quay or the River Hull or been trapped in mud around the entrance to the marina near Victoria Pier. Similar incidents have happened in Grimsby around The Barge area. Bridlington's harbour walls are a notoriously dangerous place to be when alcohol combines with darkness, high winds and a slippery surface under foot.
Steve Duffield, HFRS Group Manager for Public Safety explains:
“People tragically die each year because they’ve entered the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water. If you’ve had a drink, stay away from the water.
“Most people who drown when under the influence have done so by falling in whilst walking alone near water. We’re urging people to always stay together on a night out and look out for your friends.”
“We want everyone to have a great time this Christmas and the Don’t Drink and Drown campaign gives essential advice to party-goers to make sure they know how to stay safe when they’re out celebrating.”
Don’t Drink and Drown, this year running from 2-8 December, was launched in 2014 following a string of tragic drownings of young people. The campaign has two targeted time frames when alcohol related drownings have shown to be particularly high. These are September (at the start of the new university term) and December (during the festive period).
For more information on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, visit www.rlss.org.uk