WATER SAFETY AND ELECTED MEMBERS:
Download our brief guide to the role of Elected Members, Member Champions and Police and Crime Commissioners in creating water safe communities.
"Drowning causes more accidental deaths than fire or cycling"


Be Water Aware – April 20-26 2020.
Reach and Rescue supports the NFCC’s drowning prevention and water safety campaign called Be Water Aware which aims to raise awareness of the risk of accidental drowning.

National Water Safety Forum’s UK Drowning Prevention Strategy 2016-2026 aims to reduce the amount of accidental drowning fatalities in the UK by 50% by 2026.
Download UK Drowning Prevention Strategy 2016-2026

Reach and Rescue is a member of ROSPA – their ‘Managing Safety at Inland Waters‘ provides valuable advice and practical examples on risk assessment, selecting and evaluating controls and creating and aligning water safety policies.
What is our approach to public rescue?
There is a strong case for improving open water safety by focusing on increasing the possibility of self-rescue/public rescue and survival through the provision of effective public rescue equipment (PRE)
What is public rescue equipment (PRE)?
A range of devices including throw bags, life rings and rescue poles. Reach and Rescue’s long-reach telescopic water rescue poles are used by 80% of UK Fire and Rescue Services.
where should PRE be located?
The danger to a public waterway must be determined by undertaking a risk assessment. Reasonable steps should then be taken – such as installing Portsafe – to reduce the level of risk to the public.
PUBLIC RESCUE AND PORTSAFE
“Public Rescue Equipment is an addional mitigation that may afford the victim extra time or support to enable rescue”

CASE STUDY 1: "A Life Saving Device"
Portsafe Saves Public Life in Bedford
CASE STUDY 1: "A Life Saving Device" - Portsafe Saves Public Life in Bedford

CASE STUDY 2: Manchester Portsafe Features
in BBC Don't Drink and Drown News
CASE STUDY 2: Manchester Portsafe Features in BBC North West Tonight Don't Drink and Drown Campaign News

CASE STUDY 3: Portsafe Installed for
RLSS UK Drowning Prevention Campaign
CASE STUDY 3: Portsafe Installed Alongside River Severn as Part of RLSS UK Drowning Prevention Campaign
According to official statistics, between 2013 – 2017 there were 451 accidental drownings involving alcohol and/or drugs in the UK; this represents 29% of all accidental drownings that occurred during this period.
WATER SAFETY AND ELECTED MEMBERS:
Download our brief guide to the role of Elected Members, Member Champions and Police and Crime Commissioners in creating water safe communities.