North Berwick RNLI team up with local partners for World Drowning Prevention Day

Over two hundred youth engagements were recorded during the three hour event held to promote World Drowning Prevention Day. The key messages were how to call for help and that you could save your life, simply be knowing how to float.

Duncan Barbour, Water Safety Officer at North Berwick said: ‘We’ve had a few incidents recently where people either haven’t known how to call for help, or have asked for the wrong emergency service. During a coastal emergency this can slow down the emergency response, and in a life threatening situation, seconds count’

‘In any coastal emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Inland water is covered by the fire service. Calling for help early means help is going to get to you quicker. Ultimately calling for help is going to do more good than entering the water yourself.’

‘We’re also really keen to get people to ‘find their float’. The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign has consistently demonstrated real-world impact. Since 2017, over 50 people have reported that floating helped save their life after hearing or seeing the message.’

‘There are even cases where children have advised others to float when struggling in the water. Although it sounds simple, floating really does save lives.’

‘The key to floating, is to practice in a safe location such as a swimming pool or lifeguarded beach. Everyone floats differently so you need to ‘find your float’.’

‘Research has shown that if you can look up to the sky and submerge your ears, even if your legs start to sink, you can keep yourself afloat with gentle arm movements, just remember, submerge your ears.’

'Scotland has the highest accidental water-related fatality rate of the nations in the UK, and 73% of the accidental fatalities occurred during recreational activities. Simply knowing how to float really could help save a life.'

During the event members of the organisations present engaged with the public, welcoming them into the lifeboat station and delivering the safety messages. Those who engaged were rewarded with a tour of the lifeboat and a water safety goody bag handed out by the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers.

Statistics from the National Water Safety Forum:

• In 2025, the accidental water-related fatality rate in Scotland was the highest in the UK.
• There were 39 accidental fatalities (2025) which is below the 6 year average.
• Recreational activities accounted for 73% of accidental fatalities,

Notes to editors

• It cost £1,360 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
• In 2025 the RNLI spent £196.9M delivering its lifesaving service.
• Across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, RNLI lifeboat crews based out of 238 lifeboat stations helped 8,290 people and saved 272 lives as the charity’s lifeboats launched more than 9,000 times in 2025, making it the sixth-busiest year in the charity’s history. More here

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Matthew Gibbons, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.