Claire Hughes MP for Bangor Aberconwy has spoken out about the importance of water safety, urging people across the constituency to be aware of the risks posed by open water ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day.
The area is home to some of Wales’ most beautiful stretches of water, from rivers and lakes to the coastline, but Claire Hughes MP warned that open water can carry serious dangers, with tragedy able to strike in moments. She noted that the community has been affected by such losses on more than one occasion, including as recently as last week.
Speaking to Newyddion S4C, Claire Hughes MP discussed the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) new “Be a mate. Speak out.” campaign, which encourages people to look out for one another around rivers, lakes and beaches, and to speak up when they see risky behaviour.
Commenting ahead of the interview, Claire Hughes MP said:
“There isn’t a person in our area who hasn’t been affected by the loss of a friend, family member or someone in their community to drowning.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have so many beautiful rivers, lakes and beaches to enjoy. But open water can be dangerous, and fun can turn to tragedy in the blink of an eye. Sadly, we’ve seen this happen too many times around here.
“I’m a parent of teenagers myself, and I know how difficult this stuff is to talk about. But please have a look at the RLSS and RNLI resources online, and encourage the people in your life to be aware of the risks.
“I’m thinking of everyone who has lost someone in this way – particularly those grieving in Llandudno right now, and the friends and family of Jenna Jones who died in Llanfairfechan five years ago next week”.
On average in Wales, there is one case of drowning every week, and an estimated 600 people lose their lives related to water across the United Kingdom each year. The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign is raising awareness of water safety and the steps people can take to stay safe.
Further information and water safety resources, including advice on what to do if you or someone else gets into difficulty in the water, are available from the RLSS and RNLI websites.
Promoted by Claire Hughes at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. This website is paid for independently by Claire Hughes MP, no public funds have been used in the production of this website.
