Float: A lifesaving piece of advice

The latest fatality figures show that last year, 128 people lost their lives at the UK coast.

Just over half (55%) ended up in the water unexpectedly – many of them walkers and runners who slipped, tripped and fell in.

With Respect the Water (https://www.respectthewater.com) back for its sixth year, the RNLI are sharing its advice to float if you find yourselves in trouble in cold water.

There are five steps to floating:

  • Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about.
  • Lean back, extend your arms and legs.
  • If you need to, gently move your arms and legs to help you float.
  • Float until you can control your breathing.
  • Call for help or swim to safety.

Watch sand artist Chris Spackman (search @sandala_beachart on Instagram) bring the float safety message to life:

https://rnli.org/video-player/B1789EBB-DB57-4535-97D1890562FFA548

Read about how RNLI’s float advice saved surfer Ruth’s life and get more advice on floating at respectthewater.com (https://www.respectthewater.com).

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