Don't Drink And Drown - latest safety campaign from the Royal Lifesaving Society

York St John University took part in the launch of Don’t Drink And Drown, the latest campaign by the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS UK).

The campaign was launched yesterday at the University of York and the initiative aims to warn drinkers, particularly students, to act responsibly near water after they’ve been drinking, and to make sure they and their friends avoid walking home near bodies of water.

Campaign messages and posters are now being promoted at both universities, in pubs across the city and on social media sites.

The launch event follows the inquest, on Wednesday, of York St John student Megan Roberts who tragically drowned after a night out earlier this year.

 Megan’s mother Jackie Roberts has been working with RLSS UK and was at the launch.

 Jackie said: “When you lose someone that you love so dearly, it is too big to accept, you can’t let it be true. The only thing you can do is keep their memory alive by enlarging yourself and channelling your grief into something good.

 “Megan is such a devastating loss to a lot of people. It has rocked the community.

 “Megan was so beautiful. She was a very bright girl with a wicked sense of humour and a wilful side, mixed with shyness and an innocence that made her seem vulnerable sometimes. She had a lot of friends...she was loved. She was just a beautiful person inside and out.”

Di Steer, RLSS UK Acting Chief Executive, said: “Drinking and/or taking drugs near or in water can be a dangerous and deadly cocktail. Alcohol can seriously impede your ability to survive in water.”

 “At the RLSS UK we work hard to inform and educate people of the dangers and would say to never go into water when you have been drinking and always take care and be aware if you are near water.

“We would also ask people to, wherever possible, avoid routes home from a night out drinking that are alongside water, particularly in the darkness, and to always stick with and look out for your friends.”

For more details about the campaign please visit the organisation’s website.

City of York Council and the York Rescue Boat were also taking part yesterday, along with Ebor Lifesaving Club which provides training and courses should any staff or students be interested in developing these skills.

The top photograph shows representatives from the organisations involved and the bottom features Peter Quinn, Director of Student Support Services at the University of York, and Nic Streatfield, Head of Student Services at York St John.