REGIONAL ambulance chiefs are urging people to 'stay safe around water' this summer.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) issued the plea as it revealed that in 2017-18, its crews attended 239 drowning incidents – many of which were between May and July.

In a bid to slash the number, YAS is supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK's Drowning Prevention Week, which runs until next Monday (June 25).

As part of the initiative, schools, clubs, leisure centres and communities are being encouraged to promote the water safety message.

Stephen Segasby, deputy director of operations at YAS, said: "Warmer weather usually means an increase in 999 calls to incidents where people have needed emergency medical attention after swimming in rivers, reservoirs and other waterways.

"Even on a hot day, the temperature of deep water rarely gets above freezing, and swimmers can easily suffer cold water shock and put themselves at risk of drowning.

"Every year, lives are tragically lost across the UK, so please stay safe and stay out of open water."

Advice to help reduce the risk of drowning at home or on holiday includes:

* Always use self-closing gates, fences and locks to prevent children from gaining access to pools of water

* Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains

* Empty paddling pools and buckets as soon as they have been used. Always turn paddling pools upside down once empty

* Never leave young children unattended at bath-time and empty the bath as soon as possible after use

* When researching your holiday, or arriving at your destination, check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool or beach

* Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean. Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools

* On beaches, check when the tide will be high and low, and make sure that you won't be cut off from the beach exit by the rising tide. Also, be aware of dangerous rip currents

More safety tips can be found at rlss.org.uk.