“The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) annual weeklong Don’t Drink and Drown campaign launches today, 18 September, aiming to ensure students remain safe after nights out around the water as thousands of young people head off to university.
In a sample of UK accidental drowning cases analysed by RLSS UK, 62% of those aged 16-25 who lost their life were students[1]. As a result, the charity is urging students to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, especially if there is a body of water within the town or city they are moving to.
Of those aged 16-25 who drowned under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 81% weren’t with friends at the time of drowning[2]. The campaign aims to speak to students and encourage them to, after a night out, be responsible for their friends, be a mate, and ensure they return home safely.
As fresher’s events take place across the UK in September, many students will be heading to bars and clubs to celebrate the start of their university adventure, and this is where RLSS UK fears tragedies may occur.
Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, said: “Don’t Drink and Drown was launched following a string of tragic and high-profile student drownings in 2014. When heading to university, students should be excited for the year ahead but sadly we have seen various instances where young people’s nights out have sadly not ended the way they had planned.
“University should be a time where students are looking forward to making new mates, rather than losing them. Research indicates that among those aged 16-25 who lost their lives to accidental drowning, 44% had alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream[3]. We know that alcohol and drugs have a number of different effects on the body including lowering inhibitions, which leads to impaired judgment, and this is where we see people taking risks and getting themselves into trouble in and around water.”
Read further from Royal Life Saving Society UK (UK, September 2023)
Alcohol Awareness 