Water safety is a key skill for anyone to learn, but even more crucial for those who spend the majority of their time working in, on or around rivers or other bodies of water. Recently some of the WSRT completed their DEFRA level 2 Water and Flood Frist Responders course - here’s how they got on…
Words from Chloe Clarke, Rother Partnership Programme Manager
Lou, Eloise, Sarah and I recently went on a water safety training course at the Adur Centre in Shoreham making us all now certified Defra level 2 Water & Flood First Responders!
As we often work near or in water, the course helped remind us of the hazards associated with the water environment, got us thinking through risk assessments and prepared us to safely and effectively use water rescue equipment when dealing with accidental immersion.
Floating on your back along the river was so calming but trying to swim against the flow whilst dressed up in all the kit, was pretty hard!
Jacob & Mike from Square Knot training, took us through some classroom-based theory and then most of the time was spent in the river practicing getting a throw-line on target, using a raft to carry equipment and working as a team to cross a fast-flowing river in the most effective way - a wedge shape!
Luckily, we haven't had to put any of these skills into practice in our work day to day, but it's obviously very important that we go on these courses every 3 years to remind us just what is needed so if someone was to accidentally trip and fall into the river, we know exactly what to do.
What have we learnt?
You can drown without dying (although you might die later from secondary drowning).
The speed of the water is more important to consider than depth
59% of all UK accidental drownings happen in inland waters, in places like rivers and lakes
82% of people that accidentally drown in the UK are male
Drysuits don't always stay dry!
