Highland youngsters urged to play safely this summer
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Youngsters and parents are being reminded to play it safe around rivers, reservoirs and lochs as schools across the Highlands begin their summer holidays.
Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water’s regional communities manager, is concerned people might take unnecessary risks around water during the summer holidays.
She said: "While it’s important that youngsters enjoy their school holidays and that people take pleasure in the Highlands’ beautiful lochs, rivers and reservoirs, it’s also vital that they stay safe.
"We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but we are reminding parents to keep their children safe, and asking adults to act responsibly around watercourses."
The Play it Safe message is being reinforced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
RoSPA’s head of leisure safety, Peter Cornall, said: "In previous years, the number of accidental drownings inland has peaked during hot spells.
"We want people to be out and about enjoying the summery weather and ideally swimming at properly-supervised sites, such as the local swimming pool."
Mr Cornall particularly warned against swimming or diving in man-made features such as reservoirs which, he said, had a number of hidden dangers such as underwater intake pipes and overflows as well as steep banks and underwater plant life.
Mr Cornall added: "If people choose not to go to a supervised site, then we urge them to think through the risks of swimming in rivers, reservoirs and lochs before taking the plunge and to make sure they know what to do if something goes wrong.
"We would encourage parents and carers to discuss the dangers with their children and to remind them that children should never swim alone at unsupervised locations.
"Among the hazards to consider are that, even on a hot day, water might be a lot colder than you were expecting and there may be strong currents and underwater debris that you cannot see from the bank.
"Consider how you are going to get out of the water once you are in it, be honest about your swimming ability and remember that alcohol and swimming never mix."
Each year, there are more accidental drowning deaths in inland waters than in any other type of water.
In 2009, there were 405 accidental water fatalities across the UK, of which more than half (213) happened in inland waters, which include rivers, lakes, lochs, reservoirs, canals and ponds.
For more information contact Scottish Water’s Customer Helpline on 0845 601 8855 or www.scottishwater.co.uk/takecare.
