#CoastSafe

Staff from the Working Boat pub and the Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth are to receive lifesaving training from HM Coastguard and Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service so they can help people if they get into difficulty in the water near their businesses.

The training will take place on Friday 17 May at 4pm is specially targeting areas where people are most likely to get into difficultly - in the area near Stratton Terrace (where the businesses are located) there have been five water-related incidents in less than six months.  Staff will be trained on how to be a first responders with the aim to reduce the number of incidents.

Research indicates that around a quarter of all adult drowning victims have alcohol in their bloodstream and the #CoastSafe initiative led by Devon and Cornwall Police and partner agencies was started to educate and inform people of the dangers water and of alcohol related drownings after several tragic deaths.

The training will be provided by Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team will be overseen by an RNLI assessor to enable participants to become accredited waterside community responders.  This initiative is part of the #CoastSafe which is a partnership campaign running across Devon and Cornwall.

As well as receiving the training, the businesses will receive Royal Life Saving Society #DontDrinkandDrown merchandise for display within their premises.                         

Devon and Cornwall Police #CoastSafe Lead, Sergeant Andy Mulhern said: "Alcohol and water don't mix and can lead to tragedy, and that why this training initiative is so important.  It's aimed at being pro-active and we are pleased to be joining forces with the local Coastguard to deliver this life-saving training.  This training prevention measure sends a strong message that we are working hard to reduce drowning statistics – many of which are preventable.  With thanks to the co-operation and support of the Working Boat pub and the Greenbank Hotel, we hope to reach as many people with this message as possible and we hope this will be the first of a series of training we work on with HM Coastguard. 

"By providing throw lines and the training to staff on how to use them, we are giving the tools and skills to members of the community who are likely to be notified of someone in the water first and can provide immediate lifesaving intervention.  Cold Water Shock is a killer and we urge we urge everybody to respect the water."

 Matt Rogers, Senior Coastguard Operations Officer from Falmouth Coastguard said:"We're really pleased that these business premised have jumped onboard with this training initiative, which is in an area of high risk where drownings and incidents have occurred in the past.  By offering this vital life-saving training to their staff, they will be able to make lifesaving interventions, like using a throw line, if one of their patrons enters the water.

"This is very specialist training and we would urge people not to put their own lives at risk by jumping into the water to save someone.  It is much safer to rescue people without entering the water.  Unless you're properly trained, the best thing to do is raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastugard, and then look for assistance nearby like throw line or life buoy that you can help so you can avoid going into the water yourself."

Hannah Wiggnis-Bettles, RLSS UK Community Drowning Prevention Coordinator for the Devon and Cornwall area, said: "People tragically die each year because they've entered the water with alcohol in their bloodstream, either deliberately or completely by accident. Drinking near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail.  Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water. When walking home from a night out, avoid routes that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and always stay with and look out for your friends.  We want everyone to have a great time and our Don't Drink and Drown campaign gives essential advice to people to make sure they know how to stay safe when they're out enjoying themselves.'