Ice safety in Argyll and Bute
Improving awareness of the risks from frozen water in Scotland
Drowning in Scotland is a year-round issue and due to the increasingly cold winters that we are experiencing, frozen water is a real risk. Waterways that freeze over can be tempting to walk on but very often the ice is not as thick as it would appear which can result in a person falling through and into the freezing water below. A further risk arises from dogs or other animals that venture on to the ice and either become trapped or fall through, resulting in owners or members of the public venturing onto the ice and attempting a rescue which often results in a fall through the ice.
Water Safety Scotland (WSS) have created an Ice Safety Workshop that is underpinned by the Water Safety Code and is intended to be used to compliment the core education materials that are also available at Water Safety Scotland | Education - Resources & Workshops
In late 2023 and early 2024, Community Safety Advocate Colin MacLean-Fleming of the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) undertook delivery of the Ice Safety Workshop in schools throughout the Argyll & Bute area. Over a period of 6 weeks Colin coordinated a programme that shared the workshop with over 900 pupils in 13 schools. Colin achieved this through positive dialogue and pre-planning with Education partners to create a timetable of events and by enlisting the support of both SFRS Engagement and Operational colleagues to deliver the workshop lessons.
Colin with pupils from Strath of Appin Primary School
Colin, who in addition to his Community Safety Engagement role, is also an experienced Operational Officer in SFRS reflected on the workshop:
“I found the information within the presentation to be concise and allowed the children to interact. It is well put together and allows for free flow between the presenter and the audience.
The nature of the presentation allows the audience to immerse themselves within their own local area and encourages them to visualise dangers within known bodies of water that surround them.”
This translation of the national asset into a local setting with water bodies that the learners understand and can visualise is vital to its success and a key part of promoting water safety awareness in a way that meets local risks and is a theme in all WSS education assets.
Colin further noted the strength of the interactive nature of the workshop in clearly conveying the messaging:
“The consensus of the pupils regarding the differing percentages of accidents per season was one of astonishment, however, when you get into the open discussion with them, they realise why.”
Colin’s final comment was a welcome endorsement of the asset:
“All in all, in my view, it’s easy to follow, easy to access, and a great resource.”
Working with local members of the Argyll & Bute Partnership Approach to Water Safety (PAWS) Group, Colin now intends to support further delivery of the WSS Education assets to ensure consistent messaging and awareness of safety for young people in and around their local waterways.
Water Safety Scotland would like to extend our sincere thanks to Colin and his team for not only undertaking this project and their support of wider water safety engagements, but also for their feedback on this asset.
If you require any further information on water safety advice or the assets mentioned within this case study, please contact info@watersafetyscotland.org