Be Water Aware
The National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Be Water Aware campaign will run from Monday 27 April to Sunday 3 May 2026.Â
NFCC urges everyone to enjoy time in, on, and around water safely. Tragically, lives are lost every year in coastal and inland waters, but many of these deaths are preventable.Â
The Be Water Aware campaign is part of a coordinated effort to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, which aims to achieve a 50% reduction in accidental drownings between 2016 and 2026.Â
NFCC encourages fire and rescue services, as well as partner organisations, to share vital safety information within their communities and on social media. Raising awareness is key to preventing accidental drownings, and the campaign highlights practical advice, such as what to do if you see someone in trouble in the water.Â
The resources included in Be Water Aware can be used throughout the year to support water safety messaging in communities.
Fire and rescue service can log into the NFCC website using your registered profile and download this page as a toolkit if needed.
Key Messages
Cold water can kill
When you suddenly enter cold water your body reacts instantly with an involuntary gasp, rapid breathing, and a spike in heart rate. These reactions can overwhelm even strong swimmers. In the UK most waters are cold, generally around 15°C even on a hot day.Â
Download English Cold water can kill
Download Welsh Cold water can killÂ
Cold water shock typically lasts only a minute or two, but it’s during those moments that people are at the greatest risk. Understanding how your body responds, and knowing how to fight the instinct to panic, is a key drowning prevention message. Â
Find out more about cold water shock.
About half of accidental drownings happen to people who didn't intend to go in the water
54% of people who accidentally drowned between 2019-2024 never intended to enter the water, with 56% of these fatalities happening in inland waters.Â
Be Water Aware encourages people to spend time in on and around water safely and recognising the risks around open water which might include slips, accidental falls, being aware of surroundings which can change due to weather. Staying away from edges, avoiding distractions and to keep yourself and other safe by being aware of the risks and how to respond if you or someone else is in trouble. Â
Download English Slips and fallsÂ
Download Welsh Slips and falls
Additional information for runners and walkersÂ
Know what to do in an emergency - Phone, Float, Throw
We encourage people to know how to help without putting themselves at or emergency responders at risk.
Bystander rescue advice has been updated nationally to support this Call, Tell, Throw advice should be updated to Phone, Float, Throw.
To support this NWSF are launching Phone, Float, Throw on 8 April which will run until end of August. Resources to support can be found on the Respect the Water website Phone Float Throw – Respect The Water, and can be used to as part of Be Water Aware messaging.
Phone, float, throw resources to support the message are also available below in both English and Welsh. NWSF resources in Welsh will be available in the future.
Download English Phone, float throw
Download Welsh Phone, float, throw
Float to live
If people fall into water unexpectedly or find they are struggling, Float to live is lifesaving advice which can help people regain control until they can get help or help themselves.Â
Alcohol and water don’t mix
Annually a number of drowning incidents involve alcohol and or drugs. Choosing to enter the water while under the influence or walking a route next to water after a night out can lead to drowning.Â
Research by RLSS shows, 46% of accidental drownings in those ages 18-25 involve alcohol and/or drugs, based on WAID 2018-23Â
- 3 in 4 young adult drinkers think it is okay to drink alcohol and get into the water.Â
- In the last year, young adult drinkers are 3x more likely to have been swimming or have entered the water after drinking alcohol, when compared to older adults.Â
RLSS run the Don’t Drink and Drown campaign in September and December each year. Â
Respect the water
The overarching national water safety campaign is Respect the Water. The campaign was created by member organisations of the National Water Safety Forum, including NFCC. Resources and information can be found on the dedicated website: Find out more about Respect the Water.
Resources and information can be used throughout the year.
Downloads
Suggested social media messages and model release for fire and rescue services
vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document - 195.07kb
DownloadInland Water Safety Position Statement
In September 2024, NFCC released our Inland Water position statement. It highlights the differing statutory responsibilities across the UK. One of the key areas it outlines is that English FRS do respond to inland water rescue incidents using existing general powers and resources, but there is no statutory duty for them to do so. This means there is limited investment and resources in this area, and this can vary across the English FRS. The lack of clear statutory duty means there is no dedicated continuous funding for FRS inland water safety response and prevention work.
The recommendations in the position statement outline NFCC’s ask of government some of which have the potential to bolster fire and rescue service water safety prevention efforts including work with partners through the National Water Safety Forum.
