Boat Safety Week

IT IS Boat Safety Week again, with Fire & Rescue people around the country offering advice, and in some cases, free smoke detectors to boaters.

Firefighters from Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service take it very seriously, visiting places along the Kennet & Avon Canal, with crews on cycles travelling up and down the towpath, offering safety advice and free smoke detectors to people who live, work or are holidaying on the waterway, Alan Tilbury tells us.

They will also be highlighting the specific dangers to boat users from carbon monoxide.

Displays

There will be a display today (Wednesday) at Pewsey Wharf (by the Waterfront bar/bistro) and another on Thursday by the lock at Bradford on Avon Wharf.

There have been many boat fires on the Kennet & Avon, with one boater losing his life in a boat fire on the canal at Hilperton.  Figures show that 60 boaters have been killed in the last 20 years as a result of a boat fire or carbon monoxide on boats.

High fire risk

Colin Owens, from Wiltshire's safety team, explained:

"We know that boats carry a very high fire risk, and the tragic loss of life last year just underlined how important it is for boaters to do all they can to protect themselves. Firefighters travel along the towpath when they can, but Boat Safety Week is an opportunity for us to run a concerted campaign and hopefully reach as many people as possible.

"As well as offering fire safety advice, and fitting smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms as required, we will also be reminding boaters of the importance of knowing their location at all times so that, in the event of any emergency, we can get there as quickly as possible."