Outstanding landmarks in Renfrewshire had been lit up in blue to help World Drowning Prevention Day.
The city corridor and Bascule Bridge, in Renfrew, and Houstoun Sq. bandstand, in Johnstone, had been swathed in blue in a bid to boost consciousness of the hazards of open water swimming.
Renfrewshire Council just lately commissioned an emotional video with the household of William McNally, who tragically handed away on June 5 final yr after moving into bother whereas swimming with buddies on the Clay Pits in Linwood.
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The video speaks of the impression that 13-year-old William’s dying had on his household and urges younger individuals to pay attention to the hazards of swimming in open water and goals to teach them on what to do in case of emergency.
In addition to being made accessible to the general public, the video has been supplied to each college in Renfrewshire to be proven in school rooms as a part of a drive to cut back the danger of a tragedy like this taking place once more.
Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities and Housing Coverage Board, stated: “Educating our younger individuals, and adults too, on the hazards of open water swimming is important as we proceed to try to get better from the tragic dying of William McNally final yr.
“The video commissioned to mark the anniversary of his dying was extraordinarily emotional and troublesome to observe, however we hope it had the specified impression on everybody who watched it they usually suppose twice earlier than swimming in open water.
“We’re working laborious to place measures in place to cut back the danger of a tragedy like this ever taking place once more by putting in new security gear, visiting faculties and dealing with our companions to implement our new water security coverage, and we'll proceed to do all we will to make our waterways in Renfrewshire as secure as doable."
The video was commissioned by the Renfrewshire Water Security Working Group that brings collectively the council, the world's Civil Contingencies Service, OneRen, Renfrewshire Well being and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland, Scottish Hearth and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Open Water Rescue.
The group works carefully as a partnership to teach younger individuals in regards to the risks of open water swimming by delivering shows to colleges, in addition to in-person talks with native younger individuals at recognized spots for open water swimming, and 7 new GPS indicators have been positioned at doubtlessly harmful areas alongside the River Gryffe.
Renfrewshire Council has additionally adopted a brand new water security coverage which outlines the way it will evaluate and deal with water questions of safety, take into account the introduction of extra lifesaving gear, educate the general public, particularly kids and younger individuals, in regards to the risks of open water, and the way it will work with personal landowners.
For extra info on water security in Renfrewshire, go to www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/water-safety.
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