Latest news with #waterSafety
CTV News
8 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Seat belts off. Windows open': Demonstration shows simple steps to get out safely if your car enters the water
A car is seen in the water after being driven in as part of a demonstration to show how to get out quickly and safely on June 4, 2025. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg) Water safety experts are wanting to get the word out about what to do if your vehicle ends up in a body of water. Several organizations came together Wednesday to perform a water demonstration and show how to get out of your vehicle quickly and safely. 'All you need is, basically, your brain to tell your finger to press the red button on your seat belt and then to press the button to open your window,' said Gordon Giesbrecht, a vehicle submersion expert. Giesbrecht, who performed the demonstration, said there are misconceptions about what happens to a vehicle when it hits the water, the most common being the windows won't work because the water has short-circuited the electrical system. He said that isn't the case. During his demo, Giesbrecht was able to take his seatbelt off, roll down the window and crawl out in around 10 to 15 seconds. If someone were to ever find themselves in this situation, he said there is a simple acronym that people can remember to ensure they get out quickly—SWOC. 'Seat belts off. Windows open. Out immediately. Children first.' The key is to get out of the vehicle within the first minute. If people stay calm, he said that can be plenty of time for them to think through what they must do and get out. He said around 400 people die from drowning in their vehicle every year in Canada and the United States. Giesbrecht wants SWOC to become the new safety slogan that everyone remembers, saying everyone knows what to do if their clothes catch fire—stop, drop and roll. 'I did a study on this a while ago, and more people are in the water in a car than ever have their clothes on fire,' he said. 'If everybody knew it and could remember it, the number of drownings in cars would decrease from 400 probably to 100.' Those 100 drownings would be because of additional injuries suffered when the vehicle hits the water, Giesbrecht said. But the majority are unhurt when driving into a body of water, and they have the ability to get out, he said. Denise Johnson's daughter, Brittany, died last year after her vehicle entered a pond in Molson, Man. Johnson believes her daughter would still be alive if she knew what to do once she was in the water. 'It was 1:30 in the afternoon. Maybe she panicked; maybe she didn't know that information,' said Johnson. She is encouraging everyone to learn what needs to happen if they end up in this situation. 'Please be cautious. There are so many people driving. There are so many waterways, there's bridges, there's open water. Know what to do. Talk to your family. So many people, they live out of town, their kids are 15 years old, 16 years old, getting their licence.' Giesbrecht said so many drowning deaths in vehicles are easily preventable and he hopes this simple demonstration will save lives.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sydney Airport auctions off thousands of lost property items - from laptops to designer goods. Here's how to snap up bargains
Thousands of items left behind at Sydney Airport - from high-end tech gadgets to forgotten surfboards and designer items - are set to go under the hammer, with bidding starting at just $10. The annual Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction has returned - and it's not just savvy shoppers logging on to the online sale, which features over 2,000 unclaimed items. The auction gives shoppers the chance to browse through the treasure trove of items, including cameras, gaming consoles, jewellery, watches, perfumes, as well as plenty of one-offs like a giant teddy bear, a vacuum cleaner and even a frying pan. There are dozens of handbags and wallets, sporting equipment such as bikes, surfboards, and golf clubs, hair styling tools, sunglasses, alcohol Kindles, and toys. Shoppers looking to snap up big ticket items can expect to find laptops, headphones, coffee machine, and even the Lord of the Rings book collection. The auction, run by Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, is now live and will roll out across five days, with five categories closing between June 9 and June 12. The real draw is the cause: all proceeds will go toward free swimming lessons and water safety programs for families doing it tough amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Tech and gaming closes at 11am on June 9; jewellery and watches at 11am on June 10; clothes and shoes at 11am on June 11; sunglasses, bags and accessories at 2pm on June 11; and beauty, alcohol and home at 11am on June 12. As one bidder joked online, only at Sydney Airport could you pick up a designer handbag and a kitchen appliance in the same lot. Casi Prischl, Director at Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, said the auction has become one of the most loved events on their calendar. Australians log in from all corners of the country, not just for the deals but because they know they're supporting something meaningful. This year's collection includes high-quality electronics, luxury accessories, and standout surprises for both kids and collectors. Items are only sold after extensive efforts to reunite them with their original owners. Funds raised will be used to support the Inner West Aquatics team, who, in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society, deliver essential swimming lessons to children who might otherwise miss out. Sydney Airport has already contributed $100,000 to kick-start the initiative - enough to fund 4,000 swimming lessons - and hopes the auction will triple that amount. Josh Clements, the airport's General Manager of Corporate Affairs, said the event is about more than grabbing a bargain. The auction gives shoppers the chance to browse through the treasure trove of items. All proceeds will go toward free swimming lessons and water safety programs for families doing it tough amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures For every $25 raised, another child receives a free swimming lesson - a vital skill that could one day save a life. In 2024 alone, Sydney Airport welcomed over 41 million passengers and successfully returned more than 7,000 lost items. Anything unclaimed has now been donated to charity or repurposed for the auction. Checked baggage isn't part of the auction, as that remains the responsibility of individual airlines. Inner West Aquatics will begin delivering the program to local children in the coming months, with hopes to eventually expand to include adult classes and broader community-based water safety programs. So whether you're after an iPad, a bottle of designer perfume, or a one-of-a-kind kitchen gadget, the Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction is offering more than just bargains - it's giving local kids a chance to stay safe in the water.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Faces of those who died in Oxfordshire waterways as new figures revealed
Oxfordshire has been confirmed as the most dangerous inland county in the UK for accidental water-related deaths, with six people losing their lives last year. Figures from the National Water Safety Forum record there were 193 accidental deaths which occurred in the UK's waterways in 2024 with a further 206 water-related fatalities still to be explained. The six people who accidentally drowned in Oxfordshire last year meant the county has the fifth highest number across the country and has the highest rate of accidental deaths in the water for any inland county. READ MORE: Sexual abuse allegations at Oxford church as review launched One of those who died was Wesley Akum-Ojong, a 19-year-old student at Brasenose College, Oxford University. Wesley Akum-Ojong died at Port Meadow in October last year (Image: Contributed) The academic community was rocked after he died in October last year by jumping into the river at Port Meadow, celebrating the end of exam season with friends. Another student, Fintam Feltham, 18, who was from Bristol and studying at Reading University, also died in the water last year. Flash Sale Alert! 🌟 Dive deeper into the stories that shape Oxfordshire with Oxford Mail. Unlimited local news, an ad-free app, and a digital replica of our print edition—all with 80 per cent fewer ads on our site. 🗞️ 👇#StayInformed — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) May 26, 2025 He was discovered in the river in Oxford at Grandpont Nature Reserve in December last year, though it is not yet known how he entered the water. Fintan Feltham, from Bristol, was discovered in the river in Oxford (Image: TVP) And in December last year, Nicholas 'Nick' Macer, 50, was found in the water at Mount Place Jericho. Iona Cecchini, 76, was found in the River Windrush near Witney on April 30 after emergency services had been conducting services for 11 weeks. An inquest opening at Oxford Coroner's Court in May last year confirmed the medical cause of death as drowning. Iona Cecchini (Image: Police) Some lives taken in Oxfordshire's waterways were not accidental deaths, and therefore not included in the statistics on drowning. These include the tragic case of Martin Shepherd, 77, who was discovered in the water at Longbridges Nature Park in April last year, following a two-week search. READ MORE: Oxford piano shop closure blamed on Botley Road shutdown An inquest concluded that he entered the water 'of his own free will' after a bout of depression related to health concerns. Alexander Rogers, another student at Oxford University, took his own life in the River Thames aged 20 in January last year, after he was allegedly ostracised by his peers at Corpus Christi College. Alexander Rogers tragically took his own life in January last year (Image: JustGiving) This year the water has taken several more lives already. Benedict Johnson, 20, was discovered in the River Thames in February after a month-long search following his disappearance from Oxford. A cause and reason for death has yet to be established, with a full inquest to be held on July 3 at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court. READ MORE: Thames Valley Police officer sacked for sexualised comments In March this year, too, canal boater Pierre Roy Griessenboch Davies died in hospital after his boat sunk on the Oxford Canal in Summertown, drawing condolences and tributes from councillors, MPs and neighbours alike. Along with the statistics on accidental deaths from drowning, the water safety forum issued advice to water users as the weather warms this Spring – which is also when the most deaths occur. The campaign Respect the Water has simple, life-saving advice for what to do if yourself or someone else is in trouble in the water: find it at If you're affected by the issues in this article, contact Samaritans by calling 116 123, emailing jo@ or visiting to find your nearest branch. When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
RNLI holds young adult water safety course for Plymouth students
The University of Plymouth has collaborated with the RNLI, Swim England and Plymouth Active Leisure to teach students how to stay safe in the RNLI held a young adult water safety programme in May teaching students how to call for help correctly and how to use a was followed up by an open water swimming session at Tinside Cove which was run by Swim England and Plymouth Active Chhadva, a postgraduate student who cannot swim, said: "I loved it and definitely feel more confident and I would like to learn how to swim now." Digital and social media student Grace Uwe added: "I felt it was essential to have some experience and know the basics of saving myself in the water."I feel like I've learnt how to stay safe and I'm planning to do more swimming lessons now." Associate director of student support at the University of Plymouth Steve Gaskin said the sessions had been important to teach students "how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe" in the water."This event was an exciting opportunity for students of all swimming abilities to learn more about the open water and we are very grateful to the RNLI, Swim England and Plymouth Active Leisure for their support in delivering it," he single piece of advice which the RNLI has urged the students and the wider public to remember and share is: "If you find yourself struggling in water, float to live".
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Firefighters and EMS from different counties gather for boat safety training in Arkansas
DEGRAY LAKE, Ark. – One of the largest inland fireboat training schools in the United States made its way back to Arkansas, and this year leaders are taking water safety to a new level. The Natural State's lakes and rivers are something that people enjoy, but it can be dangerous with over 30 accidents reported in the last 42 years according to American Whitewater. Bill Barnes, Co Chairman of Arkansas Fireboat School says their program is focused on lowering those numbers. 'We have thousands of boats that are trailered into this state every year, our guests our visitors that are on the lake, so were set up to respond to all those emergencies,' Barnes said. New video shows multi-agency rescue at Arkansas River dam Firefighters and EMS crews trained to operate boats from different counties, and some from Texas and Missouri were all presented with 15 different water emergency scenarios. Water stream pump operations learning from simulated boat fires including how to save possible victims. Ron Crane, Arkansas Fire Boat School communications leader, took KARK 4 News on a boat to show how two scenarios would go. Little Rock woman speaks on continuing search for husband who went missing after boat capsized on Arkansas River One scenario emergency crew practiced putting out a possible fire on a burning boat. After Crane showed us another scenario. 'We have a medical scenario of flood victims that have been injured as a result of flood,' Crane said. Whether it's a lake, river or flooded area, all volunteers know how to respond and are now more prepared to save those that fall victim to the dangers of the water. 'They give up their time they do it all for free to save and serve the people of Arkansas,' Barnes said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
