CLYDEBANK firefighters are joining with other agencies to support a campaign this week about the dangers of being near water.

Trips, falls or underestimating the risks of being near water meant that 302 people lost their lives in 2014 across the UK.

The Chief Fire Officers Association’s Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week 2016 runs until May 1. There is a national target to reduce drownings by 50 per cent in the next few years.

Assistant Chief Officer of Prevention and Protection Robert Scott said: “We are frequently called to incidents where residents, particularly children and young people, get into difficulty when swimming in open water. With the good weather comes the temptation to cool off with a swim.

“There is no way of knowing what lies beneath the surface of the water. The water may look calm on the surface, but there may still be strong undercurrents that could pull even a strong swimmer under.

“The water may also feel relatively warm on the surface, but just a few feet below can be icy cold even in the hot weather and can very quickly cause severe cramp and hypothermia.

“Young people often misjudge their swimming ability – they may view a river or lake as a tempting means of cooling off during a hot spell of weather, but fail to appreciate the harmful effects that the cold water can have on their stamina and strength.

“Due to these dangers, we are urging people, particularly children and teenagers, not to swim in open water.”

CFOA’s Water Safety Lead, Dawn Whittaker, added: “Most people would be shocked to hear that those people drowning just happen to be near water such as those running, walking and fishing. They are unprepared for ending up in the water.”