WATER SAFETY
WATER SAFETY

Jackie Baillie has urged caution among people using local waterways this summer as new figures from the National Water Safety Forum revealed Scotland has the highest rate of accidental drownings of all UK nations.

Across West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute, there were seven fatalities in the water last year including four deaths on Loch Lomond during just one tragic weekend.

Proportionately, there were more deaths in Scotland than any other UK nation in 2021.

Earlier this year, Ms Baillie secured a £5,000 donation from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to help Loch Lomond Rescue Boat relocate to Balloch in order for the crew to be able to respond more quickly to incidents on the loch.

Since their inception in 1977, the Rescue Boat has been based at Luss however due to increasing traffic on the A82 and a rise in the number of people visiting the area, a base at Balloch means crews can get to their vessel quicker and be able to reach a potential casualty faster.

The Dumbarton constituency MSP said: “It is awful to hear that Scotland has a higher rate of accidental drownings than anywhere else in the UK. Unfortunately, the people of West Dunbartonshire have witnessed this first-hand over the past two years with four fatalities in just 24 hours on Loch Lomond last year and the devastating death of Ava Gray in the River Leven in 2020.

“There is not a moment to waste when it comes to water safety and I urge the Scottish Government to ensure that money is being properly invested into education and signage as well as lifesaving equipment. The Loch Lomond Rescue Boat is a lifeline resource locally and I am grateful for all that they do as volunteers. The service should be appropriately funded to ensure crews can respond in time to save people’s lives should they run into danger.”

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