Don’t take risks around water, Buddies urged

Scottish Water is calling on Paisley people to stay safe this winter.

The utility company is advising people to be vigilant and not to take risks around freezing cold rivers, reservoirs and lochs and any parts of these watercourses that are covered in ice.

It is urging people should not to go too close to the edge because they could slip and fall in.

Adults should keep children safe, and dogs should be kept on a lead if they are being walked near reservoirs and other bodies of open water.

Scottish Water is also advising people about the hidden dangers in reservoirs and urging them to be particularly careful if they visit one.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s chief operating officer, said: “Natural hazards can also lurk beneath the surface, where children and adults can get entangled in vegetation or stuck in mud.

“As the majority of reservoirs are remote, there is a lack of immediate assistance because the emergency services often can’t get to the area quickly.

“Water safety is a priority and we are urging people to stay safe this winter.”

Scottish Water is one of 10 partners involved in the Go Safe Scotland online education resource www.gosafescotland. com that has been developed to provide young people in Scotland with a variety of key safety messages, one of which is water safety.

Scottish Water’s #ReservoirSafety film highlights the importance of reservoir safety, and can be viewed at www. scottishwater. co. uk/ reservoirvideo or

on YouTube.

For more information www. scottishwater.co.uk/takecare, or follow it on Twitter @scottish_water and Facebook at www.facebook.com/scottishwater

Natural hazards can also lurk beneath the surface Peter Farrer