Great Western Railway marks World Drowning Prevention Day with special safety messages at stations

Great Western Railway will mark World Drowning Prevention Day (WDPD) today by playing special safety messages at its stations near popular holiday destinations.

The message has been recorded by British naturalist, explorer and TV presenter Steve Backshall and forms part of a partnership between GWR and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to mark its 200 years of saving lives at sea.

Steve worked with the RNLI’s Water Safety Team to record a series of announcements to be played at regular intervals on station platforms, catching rail users’ attention as they disembark the train heading towards the seaside.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYD0e2_z9C8

World Drowning Prevention Day is an official UN global awareness day coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The RNLI is marking the day by reminding everyone heading to the coast to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags. The charity is sharing its lifesaving safety advice as schoolchildren across the GWR network enjoy the start of the summer holidays.

RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling 87 beaches in the south-west this summer to offer advice on how to stay safe and help anyone who gets into trouble.

Across the South-West last year, RNLI lifeguards responded to 7,501 incidents, aided 10,398 people and saved 38 lives.

RNLI Water Safety Delivery Support Officer for the South-West, Joel Ninnes, said:

“On World Drowning Prevention Day we want to remind everyone that visiting a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags can make a lifesaving difference. We know the coast is going to be incredibly busy over the summer holidays and we want everyone to enjoy their time but to also remember our vital safety advice.

“If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can. It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

GWR Sales and Marketing Director, Amanda Burns, said:

“During the summer holidays we know thousands of our customers will be heading to the coast as part of their GWR adventure.

“Their safety is always of paramount importance and on World Drowning Prevention Day we’re pleased to be able to help the RNLI in spreading its safety messages further by reminding people about the dangers of the sea.”

A special ceremony at London Paddington in May saw a RNLI 200 logo unveiled on the side of Intercity Express Train, 802008, which was named after the Penlee lifeboat RNLB Solomon Browne.

Solomon Browne was lost at sea on 19 December 1981 when it launched to rescue the passengers and crew of the vessel Union Star. In all, 16 people died, including eight volunteer lifeboat crew.

Current crew members from the Penlee lifeboat were among the guests at Paddington station.

The RNLI 200 commemorative livery features 172 RNLI locations across the GWR network, stretching from Angle in south-west Wales to Selsey in West Sussex, and from Sennen Cove in Cornwall to Portishead in Bristol.