A water safety campaign has been launched across the UK to mark National Drowning Prevention Week.

This comes after a rising number of water incidents have been reported across the county.

According to an FOI from the Royal Berkshire of Windsor and Maidenhead, there have been 33 incidents involving water rescues from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

This includes incidents of body recovery from the water (fatal), rescue from the water (fatal, with injury, without injury), and vehicle rescue from the water (injured and uninjured).

Despite many measures being put in place particularly over the past few months, figures have shown that between March and May, there have been five additional cases of water fatalities across Berkshire.

The National Drowning Prevention week, which runs from June 15 to June 22 is the largest summer water safety campaign across the UK and Ireland.

The Water Safety Partnership is supporting the Royal Lifesaving Society’s Drowning Prevention Week which is deliberately timed ahead of the school summer holidays when children spend more time outdoors and when vital water safety skills can help keep children safe.

In 2023, 28 accidental drownings occurred in June, with 20 in July, and 21 in August.

In August 2023, emergency services in Berkshire sadly attended to one of these accidental drownings.

The aim of this campaign, supported by the National Water Safety Forum and The Water Safety Partnership is to make people aware of the risks when near water with some very simple advice.

David Grayson, Group Manager at Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “With so many rivers, lakes and canals running through Berkshire, it’s important that people know how to stay safe when spending time in and around the water.

“Our teams are working closely with our partners to make Berkshire’s waterways safer. Our crews and prevention staff regularly give talks to school groups on water safety, we’ve supported the installation of lifesaving equipment throughout the county and we’ve expanded our water rescue capabilies to help keep people safe.

“However, we know that young people who are finishing school or college for the summer may be especially tempted to enter the water to cool off. What we would remind them, and their parents, is that they must respect the water.

“Please don’t jump into rivers from bridges, don’t drink alcohol before swimming and never swim alone. If you want to go swimming, make sure that there is a lifeguard present or join an organised open water swimming group.”

Jon Winstanley, Chairman of the Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Water Safety Partnership, said: “No matter how hot it is outside, please don’t ever be tempted to cool off by swimming in open water or encourage your friends to jump into reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds, or any other open water, unless it’s part of an organised event.”