YORKSHIRE Water has issued a reminder for families to stay safe around water.
With the summer holidays underway and more time being spent outdoors, the warning is particularly aimed at children and young people.
Reservoirs may look inviting during spells of warm weather, but Yorkshire Water has warned they are “extremely dangerous” and not suitable for swimming or recreation.
Anne Reed, education and social value manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "The summer holidays are a time for making memories with family and friends and we want everyone to enjoy them safely, which means staying out of reservoirs and other dangerous open water.
"Reservoirs may look calm, but they can be extremely dangerous.
"The water stays cold even during hot weather, and hidden hazards below the surface can quickly turn a fun day into a tragedy."
Reservoirs remain cold throughout the year and can trigger cold water shock, making it difficult to breathe or swim.
Steep banks, deep water, and submerged hazards add to the risk and can make it impossible to get out safely.
Yorkshire Water has encouraged schools to take part in its free water safety education programme, designed to help children and young people understand the dangers of open water.
Parents and carers are also urged to talk to children about the risks and encourage them to choose supervised, lifeguarded locations instead.
Ashley Jones, head of water safety and education at the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), said: "RLSS UK wants everyone to take advantage of the sunny weather and enjoy being in, on and around water; however, it’s vital to have water safety conversations and practice self-rescue skills like floating before heading to your local beach or lake.
"Making sure you’re ready with water safety knowledge and lifesaving skills is just as important as remembering to pack suncream."
Yorkshire Water recommends that anyone spending time near open water follow the Water Safety Code.
They advise calling 999 and asking for the fire and rescue service (inland) or coastguard (coastal) if someone is in difficulty.
People are told not to enter the water to attempt a rescue under any circumstances.
Yorkshire Water adds that anyone can encourage the person to float on their back and throw something that floats to them if it is safe to do so.
More water safety advice can be found on the RNLI and RLSS UK websites.
