Agenda item

Area Manager, Matt Hamer introduced Prevention Support Officer (PSO), Paul Slee to Members. He explained that Paul worked in the Central Prevention Team, designed education packages and was the driving catalyst behind the Lancashire Water Safety Partnership.

Prevention Support Officer, Paul Slee provided members with a presentation regarding Water Safety in Lancashire.

Members were advised that water incidents attended* by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service over the past 5 years (01/01/2020 – 30/09/2025) included: -

·         Total number of water incidents attended (non-suicide related) - 283 (2025 – 38 up to 30^th September).

·         Number of casualties rescued from water (inc. fatalities) – 322 (53% were male, 25% female, and 22% were no gender recorded. Where gender was recorded 68% were male and 32% were female).

·         Suicide attempts at water locations – 39 incidents (14% of total number of incidents).

·         Fatalities – 34 (85% male, 12% female, 3% not known – in line with UK data).

·         Suicide fatalities – 5 (100% male) (15% total number of suicide attempts – half of UK percentage).

*It was noted by Members that this did not include coastal incidents.

The districts of Lancaster (almost 25% of the total), Preston, Blackburn with Darwen and Burnley had seen the highest concentration of LFRS attended water incidents. Just over 50% of the water related incidents for October 2024 – September 2025 were linked to flooding in the winter months, mainly in January 2025 all of which were vehicle related. This could be attributed to people trapped on top of vehicles. The busiest months for water related incidents were June, July, and August, although, many incidents still occurred in winter related to ice and driving in darkness.

Members noted that the permeability of soil types across the county could influence the volume of flooding.

The Eastern Area had experienced the most water related fatalities, followed by Southern, Pennine, and Northern (though the latter only included one District – Lancaster). Most fatalities noted on the map in the agenda pack were around rivers in the county. The current year (2025), as confirmed by the Met Office, had the warmest Spring on record and the driest summer on record, which contributed to a high number of fatalities across the country.

An LFRS Incidents – yearly break down was presented to Members.

LFRS Incidents and Fatalities by known age were shown in the slide pack. The top three in all categories were young males, who tended to be risk takers, and young people on holiday. The UK fatalities were also linked to 50–70-year-olds. Some of those figures could be higher as ages weren’t always captured and individuals would be described as middle-aged or elderly. Young males and middle-aged people were the target group for the Service.

Targeting Water Safety Prevention Work (LFRS data 01 January 2020 – 30 September 2025: -

·         Highest Incident Districts - Lancaster (24% of total), Burnley (10%), Preston (10%), BwD (8%).

·         Highest Fatality Districts - Lancaster, Burnley, BwD, West Lancs.

·         Highest Fatality Districts in proportion to number of incidents there - Hyndburn, West Lancs, Rossendale, Fylde.

·         UK Fatalities (National WAter Incident Database (WAID) 2024) - 84% males. 

·         Lancashire Fatalities - 85% male, 12% female, 3% not known.

·         Lancashire Casualties rescued from water by recorded gender (inc. fatalities) - 68% male, 32% - female.

The new LFRS Incident Dashboard allowed quick view, as well as more detailed analysis to aid prevention work.

The target audience related to both age groups and activities and could be explained through key themes which also took their guidance through national messaging. These were:-

·         Activities in water.

·         Activities near water.

·         (almost 40% of people who lose their lives to accidental drowning did not intend to enter the water in the first place i.e. walking on ice or jogging near water).

·         Away from home.

·         In an emergency - who to call and what to do.

The Service were supporting national water safety campaigns which linked to the LFRS campaign and local risk reduction objectives in conjunction with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF).

The Service delivered the KS3/4 Water Safety Package to schools in high-risk localities as an in-person session, schools in lower risk localities, and offered to all high schools in Lancashire. The figures for 2025 showed that there were approximately 17,000 learners from 43 schools (at least 8,000 in-person, 9,000 virtual). The total engagement, which was education specific and community engagement, as recorded as approximately 26,000). The Service also worked with partners through multi agency collaboration which included: training/demonstration awareness events; engaging with people at known or perceived high-risk sites; and helping install Water Safety Boards (WSB).

The Prevention Support Team at LFRS were responsible for the Water Safety Board initiative and worked closely with landowners, North West Fire Control (NWFC) and other key partners. WSBs had been install at recognised high-risk locations in collaboration with landowners, including United Utilities, Canal and River Trust, Cuerden Valley Park Trust, District Councils, and Local Clubs. WSBs worked by providing clear instructions advising what to do in an emergency. Each WSB had a unique location reference code linked to Fire Control mobilising Action Plan and Risk Information on Fire Appliance Computers. A throwline and whistle were in a locked canister, and the lock combination was provided by Fire Control on dialling 999. The boards were designed with a consistent look but could be tailored according to location and situation. The boards had warnings to raise awareness of the location dangers and included a damage reporting number so any issues could be addressed promptly. Members were informed that Landowners decided if they wanted to install WSBs at areas of risk and it was their responsibility to fund, site, and maintain them with the support of LFRS. In certain circumstances, throwlines might not be the most effective, such as in fast-moving water. However, water safety guidance was provided, with location details displayed on the board, and the provided float could, when used together, help save a life.

Regarding education ambitions, the Service was considering developing online options so that teachers etc. could download resources for different age groups providing lesson plans and activities for class/community groups with a variety of outcomes. The Service also hoped to encourage a team of Water Safety Ambassadors, possibly from Cadets/High Schools to help monitor “where the kids play” – which could highlight potential spots for education as well as raising the profile in the community of education about water safety in the KS3 and KS4 environs. There were links into Water Safety in the National Curriculum for KS2 in schools swimming and KS3 and 4 for Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) and the knowledge of the water safety code (which was a new element included in the current year). Further resources would be produced for particular times in the calendar to highlight specific risk e.g. holidays/beach (spring/summer). Freshers’ Week (autumn), Ice and Flooding (winter/spring) so this could be delivered working with Service partner educators.

Following each education session (inc. Water Safety) the teacher/lead adult was given a QR code and asked to use it to access the Education Webform which compiled the results automatically. After each Year 2 (Fire Safety) and Year 6 session (Road Safety), the children were given a ‘Factsheet’ which was, in effect, a letter home to tell parents/carers what they did in the session. On each form there was also a QR code for the children to complete with their parents/carers to help the Service get an indication of what they learnt/remembered from the session.

The Lancashire Water Safety Partnership (LWSP), with LFRS taking the lead, was established in 2022 to bring together key stakeholders to help shape, develop and promote water safety across the whole of Lancashire. The aims of the Lancs WSP: Reduce the number of drownings in Lancashire; Enhance the safety of residents and visitors around water when they are in Lancashire; and enhance the safety of residents of Lancashire around water wherever they are. These aims were achieved by effective use of data, sharing learning, and working together.

The way forward for the LWSP would be to continue to support landowners who wished to install Water Safety Boards at identified risk locations, either historical or perceived. It would continue to promote joint Comms, messaging, and activity regarding water (and similar, such as ice and flooding) risk at appropriate times of the year. The LWSP would also improve the data collection and analysis of water related incidents by gathering more accurate information where it was available and permissible to do. It would involve close cooperation from those agencies that attended and reported on incidents such as the Police, RNLI, and Coastguard as well as the Coroner’s office for fatalities. This should enable improved targeting for prevention.

Members were informed that two initiatives took place over the summer. One of the initiatives was the displaying of water safety and wildfire messages on digital screens at EG garage forecourts across Lancashire. The Service was won runner up at the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Prevention Awards for the water safety initiative and won the award for Addressing Health Inequalities in the BME community for work on the Regional Council of Mosques and Madrassa Water Safety Initiative. The initiative had since been shared with mosque councils across Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Bolton, and West Yorkshire which was benefited the Service when people from those areas travelled into Lancashire. PSO Paul Slee stressed that innovative ideas for initiatives were in development.

Members congratulated the Service and officers on the awards and for their excellent work.

In response to a question from the Chair regarding the right course of action for people to take if they were trapped on top of their vehicle in water, the ACFO explained that people did not realise that flood water could easily lift vehicles and the roof a vehicle was not the safest place to be with swift moving water. PSO Paul Slee added that those with electric vehicles were sometimes unable to get out of their car due to water causing an electrical fault. The best course of action was not entering the water and find an alternative route. Some areas prone to flooding which posed a danger to motorists were flagged with warning signs.

County Councillor A Riggott stated that his perception was that water safety concerns were primarily seen during the summer months, although he felt it was an issue year-round and there did not seem to be coordinated messages with the Fire Service and Local Authorities being promoted to residents. PSO Paul Slee explained that the media would highlight high profile cases which would then gain momentum on social media and influence what the public saw. The ACFO advise that sadly, there had been losses of life in the last few years due to children playing on the ice. The Service used an underwater drone which was effective in searching in water searches. Campaigns were pushed out to the public although they were not always promoted through the press. PSO Paul Slee added that data collected from previous incidents helped inform future safety messaging, and that there had been a major push on ice safety in the previous year.

The Chair inquired about the number of WSBs (Water Safety Boards) situated in Lancashire. PSO Paul Slee responded that there were 26 positioned near bodies of water in the area, with an additional 5 or 6 expected to be installed. The Chair then requested, and it was agreed, that the locations of the WSBs would be shared with Members for promotion to residents.

County Councillor A Riggott asked if WSBs were the recommended approach for water emergencies instead of lifebuoy rings that were used by management groups at retention ponds in Buckshaw Village. PSO Paul Slee advised that nationally and from the perspective of the Service, it was suggested to transition away from lifebuoy rings as they were difficult to use effectively and to use WSBs as they were more practical.

County Councillor A Riggott suggested engaging with stakeholders to list a ‘What 3 Words’ location reference code on water safety aids in local areas. PSO Paul Slee advised that ‘What 3 Words’ covered 3 metres squared and had to be checked to ensure the words were appropriate and easy to read so the location may possibly need to be adjusted where necessary.

In response to a question from County Councillor J Tetlow as to the contents of the WSB, PSO Paul Slee clarified that the box contained a 20-metre throw line bag that was not attached to anything, a whistle and it was anticipated a blanket may be included. Some WSBs were located a very short distance from the risk area where they could be seen by the public so an attached throwline would not be suitable.

Resolved: - That the content of the presentation be noted.