Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
A mother whose son drowned 10 years ago at Lligwy Falls, Capel Curig, North Wales aims to take her water safety message across the UK with the support of CEMEX UK, building materials supplier.
Debbie Turnbull, who set up the charity, RASS (River and Sea Sense), lives close to one of CEMEX’s largest quarries, Halkyn quarry in Flintshire and has been working with the company to organize and implement a further series of local assemblies, lessons and events on water safety. To date over 3000 school children have taken part.
Rob Doody, Aggregates Operations Director, CEMEX UK said: “I would like to thank Debbie for the work she has done in raising awareness of water safety. Many quarries have areas of water which can pose real dangers due to the depth and the temperature of the water and they are very tempting particularly in hot weather.
“We are really pleased with the progress so far and look forward to working with Debbie in 2017. The campaign to improve our young people’s awareness of the dangers of water must continue until we have zero incidents in the UK,” Rob concluded.
For the past 10 years, Debbie Turnbull has addressed over 175,000 young people in schools, youth groups, and put on numerous events to raise awareness of the dangers of open water throughout North Wales and other parts of the UK. During her talks she relates her powerful story of how her son lost his life to drowning and how young people can stay safe around water.
According to the National Water Safety Forum on average about 400 people accidently drown each year with almost two thirds of these fatalities occurring in inland water such as quarries, rivers and lakes.
Debbie comments “The support from CEMEX is a dream come true. I now know that I can grow my work and send out my safety message to even more young people in 2017. In addition I can undertake extra training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). I truly believe the loss of my son was not in vain.”
