Hospitality staff, security workers, and community members in York are invited to attend a free training session on Tuesday 12 May 2026 to learn how to assist people who fall into the city’s rivers. Organised by York BID and the RNLI, the one-hour event runs from 10am to 11am and focuses on the use of throw bags to help prevent drowning incidents.
The session is part of the RNLI Waterside Responder Scheme, which provides specialist training on how to use 20-metre floating lines to pull a person in the water to safety. Participants who complete the training will receive a free throw bag for their venue, providing them with a tool that can be used at key locations along the River Ouse and River Foss.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve river safety in York, where 21 river fatalities have been recorded over the past five years. While the demographics of those involved in water incidents have shifted in recent years, local authorities continue to prioritise preventative measures as the city enters the warmer summer months.
The training is supported by the York Water Safety Forum, a partnership that includes North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police, and the charity York Rescue Boat. These organisations work together to coordinate water safety strategies and reduce the number of accidents along the city’s waterways.
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