Water safety advice issued to 'at-risk' groups

A minute's silence was held to remember a man who died at Ullswater last month

People at risk of getting into difficulty in water have been identified for safety advice.

Cumbria Water Safety Partnership (CWSP) analysed county data and found people with mental health issues, dog walkers, paddle boarders, non-swimmers and males aged 16 to 25 were more at-risk.

"Having that picture means we can now develop targeted campaigns aimed at reaching those people in particular," a spokesperson for the partnership said.

CWSP has already shared safety messages online and delivered four assemblies at Ullswater Community College to more than 1,000 pupils in Years 7 to 10 last year.

The partnership was formed a year ago and is led by the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

Partners include the RNLI, Royal Life Saving Society, HM Coastguard, Cumbria Association of Secondary Headteachers, Lake District National Park Authority, Cumberland Council, Westmorland and Furness Council and Cumbria Constabulary.

It met to mark its first anniversary this week and held a minute's silence to remember a man in his 20s who died at Ullswater last month.

Paul Milburn from the fire service said: "In just 12 months we have already achieved a great deal.

"Now that we have got that foundation, we can move forward working together and having a common goal of preventing all water-related deaths, because one is too many."

Anyone who gets in trouble in the water is urged to:

• Tilt your head back with ears submerged

• Relax and breathe normally

• Move your hands to help stay afloat

• Spread your arms and legs out

Once breathing is under control those in trouble are urged to call for help or swim to safety.

The partnership also said that if someone else is in trouble call 999, tell them to float on their back and throw them items that float.