Firefighters issue warning to public about dangers of open water
Firefighters have issued a warning to the public about the dangers of open water.
The warning has been issued by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) and the organisations it works with, in anticipation of beach, river, and lake visits prompted by warmer weather.
Crew manager Paul Bainbridge said: "Even when it's a warm, sunny day, the water can still be cold enough to induce Cold Water Shock, which can seriously affect your breathing and movement.
"There may also be strong currents, which can pull even the most experienced swimmers under the water.
"That's why we are urging the public not to be tempted to take a dip in open water spots such as rivers and lakes, no matter how tempting they may look."
The fire service is asking people to remember the phrase 'float to live' if they find themselves in trouble in the water.
Mr Bainbridge said: "If you fall in the water, float on your back.
"Tilt your head back with your ears under the water and use your hands to help you stay afloat.
"When you are floating, call for help or try to steer with your arms towards shore."
The advice comes ahead of Be Water Aware Week (April 28 to May 4), a National Fire Chiefs Council campaign.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of the dangers of accidental drowning as well as providing water safety advice ahead of the warmer months.
CDDFRS has confirmed that crews attended 16 water rescue incidents in 2024 and 19 such incidents in 2023.
CDDFRS said that if someone gets into difficulty in the water people should remember to follow the Call, Tell, Throw advice.
Mr Bainbridge said: "Call 999 and ask for the fire service.
"Explain where you are.
"If you are unsure of the location, look for landmarks or use the 'what3words' app.
"Tell the person in the water not to panic and to float on their back.
READ MORE:
Durham Cathedral floral arrangements for Royal Maundy Service
Auckland Palace to welcome the Easter Bunny this weekend
La Piazza to open restaurant 'very soon' on Yarm High Street
"Throw them something that floats, such as a throw bag, if nearby.
"If they are attached to a rope, make sure you hold the end so you can pull the person in.
"If you manage to get the person out of the water, remember, they will always need medical attention as they may have hypothermia or water in the lungs."
For more information about the Be Water Aware campaign, please visit https://nfcc.org.uk/our-services/campaigns/be-water-aware/
For more water safety advice, please visit https://www.ddfire.gov.uk/water-safety
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Cooling off in the water this weekend? Here's what you need to know
As the warmer weather starts to roll in, thousands of people will be heading to the water to cool off, but officials are warning people to stay safe when entering Washington's lakes and rivers. Pinpoint Alert Days issued for warm temperatures and cold water danger Sunday and Monday 'What surprises people is the rivers. If they get in there, it's gonna be bone-chilling, cold,' said Peter Mongillo with Snohomish Regional Fire. Mongillo wants to remind people that rivers and lakes can be frigid, despite the heat outside. 'You can get your energy sapped very quickly... If you fill up with, you know, water in your lungs, you're gonna sink like a rock,' he explained. According to the National Weather Service, cold shock can happen in 50-to-60-degree water. Here are the current water temperatures in Western Washington: Lake Washington: 66° Lake Sammamish: 70° Green Lake: 65° Puget Sound (Seattle Aquarium): 56° Lake Stevens: 62° Lake Ballinger: 64° Lake Tapps: 51° Tolt River: 52° Snoqualmie River: 52° Due to these cold temperatures, Mongillo urges everyone to wear life vests — even if they know how to swim. 'Especially in the rivers, your hands become less functional. You can't grab onto things as easily, you can't swing your arms as easily, but you know what, if you got that life jacket on you're at least you're afloat,' he added. Fire officials can't emphasize enough that parents keep an eye on their kids in the water and don't get distracted looking down at their phones. Mongillo says that when the weather starts to warm up, they see an increase in water rescue calls. 'Sadly, the first warm weekend of the year, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, we can set our clocks to it because that's when drownings really start picking up in the lakes and the rivers,' he said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Lake Tahoe water temperature remains cold, posing risks for swimmers
( — With the weather getting warmer, the water temperatures of Lake Tahoe are still on the cooler side, according to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District. NLTFPD stated that before you swim, check the temperature of the water and know your limitations. Lake Tahoe remains the second deepest lake in the United States; because of this, the temperature remains lower year-round. At this time, NLTFPD said that the lake temperature is currently in the high 50s, which is considered to be cold water and can quickly lead to cold water shock, swim failure, and hypothermia. 'Cold water shock is a real risk. An average of seven people drown in Lake Tahoe every year due to cold water shock,' said NLTFPD officials. 'Cold water shock occurs when the body enters extremely cold water and the muscles lock up, resulting in temporary paralysis.' Stockton's FatherFest: A day of fun and family bonding For more updated information on water temperatures and lake conditions, click here. During the summer and throughout the year, NLTFPD responds to numerous water emergencies on the lake, according to officials. Here are some safety precautions before heading to the cold waters at Lake Tahoe. Boat Safety: Each person on board a boat, including paddleboards, must have at least one USCG-approved life Jacket Children under 13 must wear a USCG-approved life jacket while the boat is underway, unless they are in an enclosed area Carry a whistle or horn Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature Check the weather forecast for wind conditions Never go on the water alone Don't drink alcohol while recreating on the lake File a float plan – leave it with a friend or family member Swim Safety Wear a USCG-approved life jacket Know your swimming limitations Enter the water slowly Feet first, first time Swim with a buddy Respect the dangers of cold water Check the weather for wind conditions Stay hydrated Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
April 2025: A look back at last month's weather
Your StormTracker 59 team goes back into the weather files to highlight some of the most impactful weather of the month for April 2025: Warmest High Temperature: 84 degrees (April 19th) Coolest High Temperature: 43 degrees (April 8th) Coolest Low Temperature: 24 degrees (April 9th) Warmest Low Temperature: 64 degrees (April 19th) Overall, April was a warm month across southern West Virginia – the fifth warmest in recorded history for Beckley! The first half of the month featured more below average days than above, but we made up for it during the second half of the month, with upper-level ridging supporting many warm days, including three high temperatures in the 80s! The heat peaked from the 18th to the 21st and then again from the 28th to the 30th – during both stretches, there was not a high temperature lower than 78! What's new on Netflix in April 2025? When it's all said and done, we were quite a bit above average and not far from historically warm, coming in just a couple of degrees shy of the record, which was set recently in 2017. In fact, four of the top five warmest Aprils in Beckley in recorded history have occurred since 2017: 2017: 58.4 degrees 1948: 58.0 degrees 2011: 57.3 degrees 2025: 56.6 degrees 2019: 56.4 degrees In total, seventeen of the 30 days were above average, twelve were below average and one was right at average. Interestingly, the April was a month of waves: we were above average from the 2nd-7th, below average from the 7th-17th minus the 14th, and then above average from the 18th-30th minus the 25th and 26th. Pretty wild! Mother's Day Sweepstakes Overall, most areas were slightly below average in rainfall for the month of April, but not low enough to be alarming. Some of our southeastern towns Wettest Day: 0.85″ (April 4th) Though none of our region experienced during the month of April, we did exit April on a dry note, leading to many areas in our region upgraded to 'Abnormally Dry' conditions according to the Drought Monitor. This is the predecessor to drought conditions – hopefully we can get a couple of steady rains in May that allow for the groundwater to be replenished without causing flooding! Easter took place on April 20th and it was a warm one – the warmest Easter we had seen over the last ten years, with high temperatures flirting with 80 degrees! The Easter Bunny likely needed a nice cold lemonade to stay cool while flinging eggs and delivering baskets! The full moon for April was the Pink Moon, which took place on April 12th. A cool period made for jacket-wearing to view the moon! Launched in 2022, #WeatherTogether is a dedicated community photo album hosted by 59News and StormTracker 59 to allow viewers to submit weather photos directly to us that we can share on all our platforms on-air or online. These photos are also showcased in our web-based photo album on our site for all to see and enjoy! Any photo of interesting weather, storm damage, snowfall, pets playing in puddles or snow and the likes are all welcomed! We hope to use this to showcase the beauty of the two Virginias through the eyes of our viewers and the vastly dynamic weather we see because we think there is no place more beautiful than here. See for yourself the collection of photos already submitted or submit a few of your own, 2025 Monthly Review May 2024 Monthly ReviewCopyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
