A new partnership highlighting how to stay safe around open water has been launched in Chester, to mark the recent World Drowning Prevention Day.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has partnered with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) to run its Waterside Responder Scheme that introduces lifesaving skills to the staff employed by local businesses and amenities, located near open water.

Led by the World Health Organisation, World Drowning Prevention Day was a great opportunity to hold an event in Chester, on the River Dee, and several businesses in The Groves area signed up to be part of the responder scheme, which gives free training by firefighters using RNLI-donated equipment to keep on the premises in case of an emergency.

Passers-by on the day engaged with Cheshire Police, River Patrol Officers, swift water trained firefighters and the RNLI and got to try out interactive games including having the opportunity to use a throwline bag to hit a target and take part in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness sessions.

Station manager for prevention Ryan Swindells attended the event and said: “We want people to stay safe around water and know how to Float to Live if they get into difficulty, but we also need businesses situated near water to help as well, by joining the RNLI Waterside Responder Scheme so they know what to do in an emergency.

“Our firefighters were called to 186 water-related incidents in the last five years, 18 of these people sadly died and 94 per cent [17] of these water-related fatalities were men.

"Hopefully through this partnership we can significantly reduce the number of water-related incidents we attend in the future. We are confident that more people in Chester now know what to do if they find themselves or someone else in water thanks to this event.”

If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can. It's OK if your legs sink.

Chris Cousens, RNLI regional water safety lead, said: "Research found that around a quarter of all adult drowning victims have alcohol in their bloodstream.

"We know that this is a risk to people in the region, suffering from cold water shock when they didn’t intend to be in the water. This training scheme aims to raise awareness of these dangers and ultimately help save a life.

"If you see someone else in difficulty in the water, call 999 or 112 quickly to initiate the emergency response, then shout to them to relax and float on their backs in the water and, if you can do so safely, throw something to them to help them float like a ball or empty bottle."

In an inland water emergency, call 999 and ask for fire or for a costal rescue ask for the coastguard.

For more information about joining the Waterside Responser Scheme, please visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk.