MPA calls for sharing of water safety messages
Association aiming to raise public’s awareness of inland water safety through four short videos
THE Mineral Products Association (MPA) is asking its members and other organizations to share water safety messages with their staff and external networks in a joint initiative with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Canal and River Trust.
In partnership with the NFCC and the Canal and River Trust, the MPA has created several and explain what to do if either you find yourself in trouble in water or see someone else in difficulty.
The four short videos, which can be viewed on the MPA’s YouTube channel or downloaded as MP4 files, cover the following three subjects:
Inland water safety
Highlighting that there are more accidental drownings at inland water sites than at the coast. Encouraging people to think more carefully about where it is safe to enjoy water and the potential hazards they might be exposed to at an inland water site such as a quarry lake. Helping them to think and assess the potential risks before entering the water #Respectthewater
‘Float to Live’
Helping people to understand what they should do if the suddenly find themselves in trouble in water. This could be following a fall/trip at the water’s edge, a deliberate jump into water, or when engaged in a variety of water-based activities. The simple technique of floating on one’s back is lifesaving – ‘Float to Live’. The challenge is to engrain this into people’s minds so that if they are in a potentially life-threatening situation in water, the thought of ‘Float to Live’ will be triggered. Ideally, it will also encourage people to practice this technique the next time they are in a safe environment such as a swimming pool.
Call, Tell, Throw
Ensuring that people understand what to do if they see someone in trouble in the water. Sadly, every year people attempting rescues have drowned when they have entered the water whilst trying to help a person or animal. Call, Tell, Throw are three easy steps that can increase the probability of a successful outcome.
Whilst these videos have been produced to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day on Friday 25 July, they are intended for use throughout the year, particularly during school holidays and periods of very hot weather.
As stated, the purpose of these videos is to raise the public’s awareness of inland water safety. The MPA hopes that organizations working within the industry will share one or more of the videos with their employees and encourage them to share with their friends and family via their own networks.
With the start of the school holidays in England and the forecast for more periods of unusually warm weather, this is an ideal time to inform parents and, hopefully, get them to be pro-active in sharing these messages. Young men are the group most at risk of accidental drowning.
Chris Leese, executive chair of the MPA Executive Management Committee, said: ‘The multiplier effect of this could be significant, even if only a small percentage of our employees choose to post one of these videos on their social networks. Whether used now or at some future time, these resources could help save the life of someone close to you.
‘As an industry, we work hard to try to ensure that we are taking the right steps to keep members of the public safe. The key to drowning prevention is raising public awareness. The MPA has been collaborating with a wide range of organizations who all share the same goal, to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy water safely, whether inland or at the coast. Please share these videos.’
