Dear Resident

With temperatures rising this weekend and the summer holidays just around the corner, it’s more important than ever to talk about staying safe near open water. 

We will have officers patrolling the open water beauty spots across the district this weekend, and we know that our colleagues at West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue will be doing the same, but you can help us to keep those close to you safe by having this conversation:

Talk to the children and teens in your family, remind them that swimming in open water is extremely dangerous. Hidden dangers can be beneath the surface of ponds, lakes and flooded quarries, as well as slippery rocks and sudden changes in water depth.
They might be hot and fancy taking a dip to cool down, but cold-water shock can kill.

If you / they see someone in trouble in the water:
Call 999 - ask for Fire and Rescue
Tell them to float on their back
Throw them something that floats

Everyone deserves to enjoy the outdoors without risk - and with the right education, accidental drownings are preventable.

If you see someone in trouble in the water:

CALL 999 - ask for Fire and Rescue

TELL them to float on their back

THROW them something that floats

To find out more about water safety, prevention and education, please take  a look at the West Yorkshire fire & Rescue website Water Safety | West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service