Agenda item

Charles Loft, Senior Adviser, introduced the item. He discussed the incidents in Camber Sands over the summer and the effect this had had on all councils. He drew members’ attention to the issues set out in paragraph 10, asking them to comment on what more could be done to improve water safety. Amongst a number of suggestions, members were asked to consider supporting the work of the National Water Safety Forum and for a water safety session to be set up at the LGA’s National Conference.

Chris Margetts, Chief Operating Officer from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, spoke to members about the work of the Chief Fire Officers Association and the National Water Safety Forum. The forum had captured all fatalities by drowning (broken down by local authority areas) and had produced a downing prevention strategy which the government had agreed to support. By the end of 2018, all areas are expected to have carried out a water safety risk assessment.

He discussed problems around no government department having responsibility for the area and the work the forum was doing to assist local authorities, highlighting a case study from Northamptonshire, where the RNLI, Local Authorities, the FRS and the Water Safety Forum and had worked together to improve water safety.

Members made the following points:

·         The Northamptonshire case study was discussed and members were advised that this had been locally funded by the partners. It was also advised that Fire and Rescue Authorities did not receive any specific funding for this work. There was a water safety working group to share good practice and resources, with prevention being the best way to reduce the financial impact.

·         Members asked if the database could be broken down by area. They were advised that you could search by location, age etc, but it only currently listed fatalities.

·         It was highlighted that eight authorities were missing from the database (including Derbyshire) as they had had less than three  fatalities by drowning.

·         The Camber Sands incident was discussed and the challenges media coverage of the incident had presented as well as the help the LGA had provided noted. A mobile lifeguard in the area had provided reassurance to local residents.

·         The number of alcohol related fatalities in rivers due to drowning were noted and options for prevention and education on this issue were discussed given that there was often little evidence on how people had ended up in the river. In many incidents, the victim had not realised that the temperature of the water was so low.

·         Members requested that point 15.1 (opportunities for learning to swim) was strongly emphasised, as it was felt many did not understand the dangers of failing to learn, and teaching needed to cover lifesaving. Members also requested that more work was done on teaching water safety to key risk groups and that the paper further emphasised that the dangers applied everywhere (inland and in coastal areas). It was suggested that social media was used to highlight messages.

·         Individuals who had rescued others or pets from drowning and he risks associated with this were discussed, as was  the need to address post-traumatic problems faced by rescuers.

·         The need for localised campaigns on water safety was highlighted, such as in Lincolnshire where there were particular risks associated with the local marshes and drainage ditches.

·         Members discussed suggestions for combined authorities to have responsibility for water safety as devolution deals progressed.

·         Members noted that water safety education had benefits for those going on holiday and asked for figures on British tourists that had died aboard as a result of drowning, as the WAID data did not capture this.

·         Issues on lack of funds for councils to fund prevention methods were highlighted.

Decision:

1.    Members noted the report and agreed the actions in it

Actions:

1.    Officers to emphasise the importance of the availability of opportunities to learn to swim, as well as education on water safety.

2.    Officers to investigate the figures on deaths of those travelling aboard (due to drowning).

3.    Officers to progress the recommendations set out in the report.