WIREDGOV

Water safety, lifesaving and drowning prevention professionals will gather to discuss how to slash the UK’s number of water-related deaths in half by 2026.

RoSPA’s National Water Safety Conference, taking place in Bristol on Thursday, October 5, will see talks, workshops and presentations from specialists from across the country as they look for a way to tackle drowning.

An average of 400 people drown accidentally in UK waters, with a further 200 dying due to water-related suicide. Last year the National Water Safety Forum, that includes RoSPA and other organisations such as the RNLI and Royal Life Saving Society, produced the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, which targets a 50 per cent reduction in deaths over the next 10 years.

The event in Bristol will look at this, as well as other key challenges such as how to maintain heritage, principles of access, and ability to take risks while improving water safety at the same time.

Attendees will hear from George Rawlinson, operations director at the RNLI and chairman of the National Water Safety Forum, Jon Glenn from Swim England, and Alison Kibblewhite from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, before a number of track sessions and off-site workshops take place.

David Walker, leisure safety manager at RoSPA, said: “If we are going to hit our target of 50 per cent fewer drowning deaths by 2026, it is essential that the water safety community works together.

“Our conference in Bristol is an important step in helping this to happen, and provide those attending on the day with the opportunity to learn, share, network, and get involved with key campaigns.”

Places at the conference, taking place at Bristol’s M Shed from 9am-4pm, are still available, with attendance certification provided to log against CPD schemes. Contact RoSPA’s events team on 0121 248 2091 or events@rospa.com.