Message is don’t drink and drown
A new campaign is telling drinkers Don’t Drink and Drown.
The message is clear - drinkers should act responsibly near water after they have been drinking - and to make sure they and their friends avoid walking home near bodies of water.
Latest figures show Scotland has a higher rate of drowning than England and Wales.
Around 15 per cent of all adult accidental drowning victims in Scotland had alohol in their bloodstream.
In 2015 all 18 to 21- year- old accidental drowning victims in Scotland had alcohol in their bloodstream.
Over the previous three years ( 2012- 14) 88 per cent of all adult accidental drowning victims who were found to have alcohol in their bloodstream were male. In 2015 this increased to 100 per cent. Scottish Swimming and Liz Smith MSP are both supporting the campaign.
Liz Smith MSP said: “Every year far too many people drown following a night out drinking and it is important that the message from the Royal Life Saving Society UK of ` Don’t drink and drown’ is spread far and wide.
“A huge percentage of accidental drowning victims in the UK were found to have alcohol in their bloodstream and it’s important that friends look after each other on evenings out and that everyone is aware of their limits.
“If you are planning a big night out, avoid walking home via waterways.
“Above all its important that we raise awareness of accidental drowning to ensure that people think twice when in and around water this Christmas.”
Di Steer, RLSS UK Chief Executive said: “People die each year after entering the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident.
“Drinking near water can be dangerous and a deadly cocktail.
“Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.
“At RLSS UK we work hard to inform and educate people of the dangers and advise the public to never go into water when you have been drinking and always take care and be aware if you are near 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.
Victims had alcohol in bloodstreams