Stay safe by the water this Christmas

11 December 2009

British Waterways (BW) is urging visitors to stay SAFE on the towpath after the Met Office predicted plummeting temperatures in the run up to Christmas.

BW’s 2,200 mile network of canals and rivers is visited all year round by walkers, joggers, families, anglers, boaters and cyclists. The nation’s historic waterways can look particularly picturesque on crisp winter days, with Christmas-card perfect frosty scenes and with some freezing over altogether. BW is reminding visitors that the cold weather brings its own particular hazards and is calling on people to take extra care this winter.

Towpaths, bridges and lock-sides can be particularly slippery at this time of year and snow can conceal trip hazards such as boat mooring rings close to the water’s edge. Frozen waterways may look idyllic but can be very dangerous, and visitors should never attempt to walk on the ice. This is particularly important with activities involving young children such as feeding the ducks, and dog walkers should also be aware of the dangers. British Waterways’ message for visitors is to stay SAFE by Staying Away From the Edge.

Peter Wade, safety adviser at British Waterways, explains: “The canals and rivers are beautiful places to visit in the winter and there’s nothing better than a stroll along the towpath to walk off some of the festive season’s excesses. It is vital however that people take particular care to avoid turning a gentle walk into a miserable visit to A&E or worse. Children should be accompanied by an adult when they visit a waterway and should be made aware of the potential hazards, and we urge all visitors to stay safely away from the edge.”

For more information on water safety and to download safety resources visit www.wow4water.net. RoSPA also provides comprehensive advice on safety around the water, and information and education packs can be found on www.rospa.com.

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