Water safety
Every year, in the UK, around 400 people die from drowning as a result of an accident in or around water.
Read our advice for staying safe near open or flood water.
Half of accidental drownings in the UK occur when people didn't intend to go in the water, so simple steps to raise awareness of the risks around water and how they can be reduced will help prevent these deaths.

The 3 main types of water related accidents Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service are:
- Rescue of people who didn't intend to go in the water
- Rescue of people who were in the water intentionally and get into difficulty
- Rescue of people who intentionally enter the water with the intent to harm themselves
Remember: if you spot anyone in trouble in the water, call 999 right away.
"Our county has lots of beauty spots near the water and they are especially nice to enjoy when the sun is shining. We don't want to spoil people's fun by telling them not to jump into rivers and lakes, but we do feel it is important to educate the whole community about the risk open water poses if you are not a trained professional with the correct equipment.
Prevention is always better than cure. We want people to enjoy the water safely and we are fully committed to preventing drowning incidents from happening in the first place. In order to do this, more education is needed, not just in schools but also through engaging with the public in awareness campaigns, so that people fully understand the risks and are better prepared."