People warned of water danger (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

People warned of water danger

10:40am Friday 20th July 2012 in News

POLICE and fire officers are joining forces to promote water safety near Worcestershire’s rivers, lakes and canals.

West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service want to highlight the dangers of open water and encourage residents, whatever their age, to take care and enjoy the summer in safety.

Station commander Grant Wills from Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service said: "Both the fire service and the police get called to many water-related incidents, particularly during spells of hot weather when people are more tempted to take a dip to cool down.

"While the water might be inviting, it's also fraught with danger and so we want make people aware of the risks so that they will think twice about going into the water, or indeed allowing their children to play unsupervised near the water's edge."

The advice from the police and the fire service is to avoid swimming in rivers, lakes and canals, to heed warning signs located near open water, to never enter the water near weirs, locks, pipes and sluices, to never dive or jump from bridges and to never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Superintendent Steve Cullen from West Mercia Police added: "We are privileged to live and work in a beautiful part of the country with a huge area of water. However, this comes with its dangers.

"Sadly every year we end up dealing with people who come to harm through choosing to enter water without considering the risk."