With the current cold weather, Canal & River Trust, the waterways charity which cares for 2,000 miles of water in England and Wales, is encouraging people to enjoy wintery walks on the towpath, but to do so safely and sensibly.
The waterways are beautiful places to spend time when it’s frosty and snowy – and look great on Instagram – but on wet and icy towpaths, or when distracted by a mobile phone, the risk of slipping, tripping or falling into the cold water can increase.
Anne Gardner-Aston, director of health and safety at the Canal & River Trust, said: “For the millions of people living alongside them, especially in our towns and cities where green space is at a premium, canals and rivers can provide a boost to health, happiness and wellbeing. The waterways look beautiful in the frost and snow and it’s no wonder people want to head to the towpath for a wintery walk. However, with the cold temperatures and the dark afternoons and nights, it’s even more important to remember to take care when walking, running or cycling next to water.
“When it’s very cold it’s all too easy to slip on ice or wet ground and fall in. Even if you know the towpath like the back of your hand, one wrong step and you could end up in freezing cold water. So our message is to take care near the edge of the water.”
Top tips if you fall into the water this winter:
- The shock of falling into cold water will cause you to gasp. Float on your back while you get your breathing under control. Use your hands to help you if you need to and it’s ok if your legs sink a bit. Then call for help.
- If you can’t stand up, continue to float on your back until help arrives.
Top tips if you find someone in the water this winter:
- Stay on the towpath – DO NOT enter the water to help them.
- Call the emergency services straight away.
- Tell the person to float on their back. It will help them control their breathing while the cold shock passes.
- Once their breathing has calmed, and if they can, shout to them to swim to you.
- Lie with your whole body on the towpath and try to reach them with a scarf or a long stick.
- If they can’t swim to you, tell them to keep floating and try to find something to help them stay afloat, like a football or empty bottle.
Towpaths, bridges and lock-sides can become slippery at this time of year and snow can conceal boat mooring rings and ropes which, unless people are paying attention, can be easy to trip over. And whilst frozen canals look beautiful no-one should ever attempt to walk on or test the thickness of the ice. Dog walkers are advised to keep dogs on leads during a freeze in case they run onto ice, and to never follow their pet on to a frozen canal.
For more information on how floating can save your life when you are in difficulty in the water, visit the RNLI’s #FloatToLive campaign – https://rnli.org/safety/float