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Summer safety risks
09/07/2009
This summer, more and more people will be heading for the great outdoors, to make the most of what Scotland has to offer. But the natural beauty of the mountains, woodland, and waterways can often catch out the unprepared or the foolhardy.
With many hidden dangers - rapidly changing weather and water that can be deeper and faster moving than it appears - every year in Scotland scores of people are injured or killed by not understanding or respecting their surroundings.
Indeed, it is a situation that led Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing, to announce a comprehensive review of the emergency services' ability to deal with all forms of water rescue.
This strategic review, commissioned by, but independent of Scottish Ministers, is being led by Paddy Tomkins former Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland.
In the meantime, with the promise of a warm summer ahead and the school term recently finished, Fergus Ewing has highlighted the dangers of being unprepared. With first hand experience as a member of the Lomond Mountain Rescue team for over 10 years, Mr Ewing says:
"Scotland's countryside, while often majestic, needs to be treated with a great deal of respect. All too often, people simply underestimate the scale of a mountain or the flow of a river and find themselves in a perilous position.
"While many are rescued, others are not so lucky. With this in mind, the Scottish Government is highlighting a series of steps to help you and others to enjoy a safer summer."
Steps to enjoying a safer summer:
1) Always be aware of the potential dangers around you
2) Always let people know where you are going and when you will be back
3) Always supervise children around water
4) Always heed warning signs and flags
5) Never mix excess alcohol with climbing, hill walking or swimming