Don't Drink and Drown

It’s a sad truth that the majority of men who go missing on a night out are tragically later found drowned in open water.

We are all too aware that the number of drownings increase in the winter period, more often than not because of intoxication.

To help cut down the number of people who senselessly lose their lives, we’re supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s national Don’t Drink and Drown campaign.

People tragically die each year because they’ve entered the water with alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident.

Over the last five years there have been 1,461 accidental deaths in the UK and more than 30% of the victims (448) had alcohol in their bloodstream.

In 2018 alone, there were 92 alcohol and/or related drownings recorded, compared to 53 the previous year, which shows a staggering 41% rise.

The Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, this year running from 2 to 8 December, was launched in 2014 following a string of tragic drownings of young people. RLSS UK was keen to prevent more tragedies, by targeting at risk groups in hot spot areas, at particular points in the year where alcohol related drowning incidences increase - September (at the start of the new university term) and December (during the festive period).

As part of the campaign, organisations up and down the country promote water safety messaging and run awareness activities urging revellers to take care near water whilst under the influence of alcohol and/or.

We want everyone to have a great time this Christmas and through the Don’t Drink and Drown campaign we aim to share RLSS UK’s essential advice to party-goers to make sure they know how to stay safe when they’re out celebrating.

When walking home from a night out, avoid routes that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and always stay with and look out for your friends. Don’t let anyone walk home on their own.

Stay Safe this Christmas:

• Don’t walk home near water, you might fall in

• Look out for your friends, make sure they get home safely

• Don’t enter the water if you have been drinking

• Be aware that alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble

For more information on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, and find out how you can get involved:

Visit the website at www.rlss.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter - @RLSSUK

Follow the campaign - #DontDrinkandDrown #BEAMATE

Visit the Facebook page - www.facebook.com/RLSSUK 

Call – 0300 3230 096