Don’t Drink and Drown Week 12 – 18 December 2024

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is supporting the RLSS UK national Christmas ‘Don’t Drink and Drown’ campaign and encouraging students to stay safe and clear of the water this festive period.

The campaign specifically targets those aged 18-25, as 46% of accidental drownings in this age group involve alcohol and/or drugs. The campaign encourages individuals to take responsibility for their friends when under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, helping them to avoid dangerous routes by water and return home safely.

As part of the national Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), MAWWFRS are urging students to make good choices, look after one another and make sure that routes home after a night out are away from the water.

Bethan Gill – Central Community Safety Lead at MAWWFRS said:

This year, RLSS UK aims to continue to drive down the rate of alcohol-related fatalities in, what are usually, completely avoidable tragic incidents.

The Charity are pushing their #BeAMate message by encouraging people to:

• Look out for your friends, make sure they get home safely.
• If you’ve had a drink, stay away from the water.
• Find an alternative route home, don’t walk home near the water.
• Stay away from the water in winter, cold water shock kills.

For more information on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, visit www.rlss.org.uk.