Today is World Drowning Prevention Day - a World Health Organisation initiative to reduce preventable deaths from drowning and to promote safety on and around the water.
Last year a young woman from Llandudno tragically lost her life after getting into difficulty in the water while using a paddle board off Conwy Morfa. Earlier this month I met in Parliament with representatives from the WHO and from the RNLI to discuss water safety and given the increasing popularity of Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs), both here in Aberconwy and around the UK, I would like to take this opportunity to promote the SUP safety guidance that has been put together by the RNLI and British Canoeing.
In addition to their useful graphic (above) you can access their detailed safety guidance here: Stand-up Paddleboarding Safety Tips And Advice From The RNLI
I would also like to promote the RNLI's Float to Live campaign which you can learn more about here: Float To Live – What To Do In An Emergency – RNLI
Diwrnod Atal Boddi
Heddiw yw Diwrnod Atal Boddi y Byd – menter Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd i leihau marwolaethau y gellir eu hosgoi drwy foddi ac i hyrwyddo diogelwch ar ac o amgylch y dŵr.
Y llynedd collodd menyw ifanc o Landudno ei bywyd ar ôl mynd i drafferthion yn y dŵr wrth ddefnyddio padlfwrdd yn Aber Afon Conwy. Cefais gyfarfod yn y Senedd yn gynharach yn y mis gyda chynrychiolwyr o Sefydliad Iechyd y Byd a’r RNLI i drafod diogelwch dŵr ac o ystyried poblogrwydd cynyddol Padlfyrddau Sefyll i Fyny (SUP), yma yn Aberconwy ac o amgylch y DU, hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i hybu canllawiau ar ddiogelwch SUP sydd wedi’u creu gan y RNLI a British Canoeing.
Yn ogystal â’u graffeg ddefnyddiol (uchod), mae eu canllawiau diogelwch manwl ar gael yma: Cyngor Diogelwch Padlfyrddio gan yr RNLI
Hefyd hoffwn hyrwyddo ymgyrch Arnofio i Fyw yr RNLI, a gallwch ddarllen mwy am hyn yma: Arnofio i Fyw – Beth i’w wneud mewn argyfwng – RNLI