'If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, remember Float to Live' - Your Letters: July 15

With the tragic drowning of a teenage boy in Sutton Park, the RNLI are highlighting our key water safety messages as the hot weather continues. Although we are the charity that saves lives at sea, we know many people head to in-land bodies of water to cool off in the hot weather. The risk of accidental drowning is five time higher when air temperatures are at or above 25 degrees, when compared with 10 degrees. Cold water shock and currents, plus other potential risk factors, are still very much a danger at in-land locations and we urge people to take the necessary steps to keep themselves safe.

Always read the local safety signage and never enter the water alone. 

If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, remember Float to Live – we know this simple piece of safety advice save lives.Tilt your head back with ears submerged. Relax, breathe normally and move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat. It’s ok if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once you’re over the initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can.

If you see someone else in trouble in the water call 999 or 112, tell them to Float To Live and if you can – throw them something that floats that they could hold onto. You should never enter the water to rescue someone, as you could end up in difficulty yourself.

Chris Cousens, RNLI Regional Water Safety Lead​

MANY FIDDLING THE SYSTEM

Mark Webster of the Green Party insists the rise in disability benefit claims "reflects genuine needs, not abuse". He really should get out more.

In my area we know of many who are genuine disabled. We also know of many who are fiddling the system. Why don't we report them? We rather like the idea of keeping our cars intact and no stones, half bricks or airgun pellets through our house windows.

To have two young women at local school gates discussing how to convince "the Social" (sic) their child has ADHD is quite common. Coaching the parents on how to be convincing during their PIP interview, that they have fibromyalgia is also a common school gate topic. I have this on good authority from one very successful claimant.

Trevor Howard, West Midlands

PAVEMENTS IDEA IS JUST STUPID

I would like to congratulate the Mayor of Llandrindod Wells and the town council in their strong objection to the completely stupid idea from Powys CC and the Welsh Government to make the pavements wider and the main trunk road through Llandrindod so narrow so that large lorries and farm vehicles cannot pass one another in the centre of the town. The town council is also opposed to the making of the road around Llandrindod Lake one way and also preventing motorist parking by the pavement and enjoying the view of the lake itself.

Both of these schemes should never have taken place as no one in Llandrindod wanted them. We would have preferred the many pot holes in the roads connecting our towns and villages to have been repaired instead of this monumental waste of taxpayers by Powys CC and the Welsh Government.

Harold Nicholls, Llandrindod Wells

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