Fire chiefs call for urgent action on drownings
Fire chiefs are calling for urgent national action to prevent drownings after a 16-year-old boy died while swimming in a lake during a spell of hot weather.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the Government to give fire services in England a legal duty to respond to water emergencies, such as rescues in rivers, lakes and canals.
The call comes during the NFCC's Be Water Aware campaign and as emergency services report a rise in water-related incidents.
The teenager died after getting into difficulty at Colwick Country Park in Nottingham on Wednesday evening. His body was recovered hours later.
Chief Inspector David Mather of Nottinghamshire Police said: 'While work is now under way to understand how the boy came into difficulty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.'
Tom Staples, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident was a 'stark reminder' of the hidden dangers in open water.
NFCC water safety lead Chris Kirby said: '1,400 people have died in accidental drowning incidents across just five years.
'We need urgent action to prevent anybody else coming to harm and that requires steps being taken at a national level.'
The NFCC says the lack of a legal duty in England means fire services face limits on how much they can invest in water rescue training, equipment and education. It also leads to inconsistencies across the UK, with Wales having a statutory duty for inland water rescue, and Scotland and Northern Ireland holding duties in relation to major flooding.
Kirby said clearer responsibilities for fire and rescue services, backed by law and funding, would help improve emergency response and public safety campaigns.
Figures from the Water Incident Database show 1,409 people died in accidental drownings between 2019 and 2023, with more than half in inland waters.
The NFCC also wants the Government to appoint a lead department or minister for water safety to better coordinate prevention work.
Temperatures reached 29.3C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday – the hottest May 1 on record – with fire services warning of a surge in water incidents.
The London Fire Brigade said such incidents were up 32% last month.
Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: 'Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Emergency workers to get greater protection from racial abuse in house calls
Emergency workers will be given greater protection from racial and religious abuse during house calls, the Home Office has announced. The Government said it would close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls. The measures were tabled on Tuesday as amendments to the Government's Crime and Policing Bill. It is currently illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home under the Public Order Act 1986. The gap was originally designed to ensure that laws allowing police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did not overstep into private conversations held in homes. The Home Office said the law has left 'emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls', and 'unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour'. The department added that 'reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or religion while in private homes have increased'. Under the change, those abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said emergency workers 'should never have to tolerate abuse due to their race or religion while simply doing their job'. Dame Diana added: 'By closing this loophole, we're sending a clear message that racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our communities will not be tolerated.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the new measures would 'crack down on perpetrators'. Mr Streeting added: 'Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation. 'Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they are.' Andy Rhodes, director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said the amendment would 'better protect officers and staff who are there to protect the public'. Mr Rhodes added: 'Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in private homes, and over time this can take a toll. 'The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on individual victims and racial and faith-based discrimination against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any form.' Minister for Fire Alex Norris said the Government 'stands firmly behind emergency service workers and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking their lives to keep us safe'.
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Emergency workers to get greater protection from racial abuse in house calls
The Government said it would close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls. The measures were tabled on Tuesday as amendments to the Government's Crime and Policing Bill. It is currently illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home under the Public Order Act 1986. The gap was originally designed to ensure that laws allowing police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did not overstep into private conversations held in homes. The Home Office said the law has left 'emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls', and 'unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour'. The department added that 'reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or religion while in private homes have increased'. Under the change, those abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said emergency workers 'should never have to tolerate abuse due to their race or religion while simply doing their job'. Dame Diana added: 'By closing this loophole, we're sending a clear message that racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our communities will not be tolerated.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the new measures would 'crack down on perpetrators'. Mr Streeting added: 'Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation. 'Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they are.' Andy Rhodes, director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said the amendment would 'better protect officers and staff who are there to protect the public'. Mr Rhodes added: 'Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in private homes, and over time this can take a toll. 'The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on individual victims and racial and faith-based discrimination against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any form.' Minister for Fire Alex Norris said the Government 'stands firmly behind emergency service workers and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking their lives to keep us safe'.
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Emergency workers to get greater protection from racial abuse in house calls
The Government said it would close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls. The measures were tabled on Tuesday as amendments to the Government's Crime and Policing Bill. It is currently illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home under the Public Order Act 1986. The gap was originally designed to ensure that laws allowing police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did not overstep into private conversations held in homes. The Home Office said the law has left 'emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls', and 'unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour'. The department added that 'reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or religion while in private homes have increased'. Under the change, those abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said emergency workers 'should never have to tolerate abuse due to their race or religion while simply doing their job'. Dame Diana added: 'By closing this loophole, we're sending a clear message that racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our communities will not be tolerated.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the new measures would 'crack down on perpetrators'. Mr Streeting added: 'Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation. 'Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they are.' Andy Rhodes, director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said the amendment would 'better protect officers and staff who are there to protect the public'. Mr Rhodes added: 'Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in private homes, and over time this can take a toll. 'The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on individual victims and racial and faith-based discrimination against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any form.' Minister for Fire Alex Norris said the Government 'stands firmly behind emergency service workers and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking their lives to keep us safe'.
