Festive party-goers targeted in national Don’t Drink and Drown campaign

Rochdale Canal

Festive revellers are being warned to act responsibly near water during their night out, as part of a national charity’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign.

The campaign, run by the UK’s drowning prevention charity the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), urges people not to walk home near bodies of water after they have been drinking.

Last year 20% of all adult accidental drowning victims in the UK had alcohol in their bloodstream.

Drowning statistics revealed that 39 people drowned in Manchester in the last five years and six of these were found to have had alcohol or drugs in their system.

Canal and River Trust, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, and Manchester Water Safety Forum have all pledged their support to the campaign.

As part of the campaign, banners displaying water safety messaging will be displayed at selected spots on the canal and waterways to warn people about the dangers of walking home near water after a night out drinking.

Gillian Renshaw from the Canal & River Trust charity said: “The waterways are brilliant places to relax and enjoy walking, cycling and angling during the daytime but on dark winter nights, we urge people to take extra care. Don’t take unnecessary risks, particularly after a night out.”

Aaron Dhanda, RLSS UK Community Drowning Prevention Coordinator for the Greater Manchester area, said: “People tragically die each year because they’ve entered the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident. Drinking near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.

“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.”

“We want everyone to have a great time this Christmas and our 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.”

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
• Alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble

Don’t Drink and Drown was launched in 2014 following a string of tragic drownings of young people. Research indicated that around a quarter of all adult drowning victims have alcohol in their bloodstream and RLSS UK were keen to prevent more tragedies by providing a strategic approach in hot spot areas.

The campaign has two targeted time frames where RLSS UK and supporters push messaging through events and social media. These are September (at the start of the new university term) and December (during the festive period).