Water Safety

The RNLI’s 2026 Float to Live campaign launched Tuesday 19th May.

As we move towards the school half term holidays and as the weather threatens to improve, we’re asking for your help to share this lifesaving advice to save more lives. It only takes one conversation to save a life, so please share our campaign with your teams, contacts, families and friends – you could be a lifesaver!

A few key campaign snippets to help:

• The core campaign message remains simple and practical: if you find yourself struggling in the water, Float to Live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and try to control your breathing, move your hands and legs if needed, and remember that it’s OK if your legs sink — we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

• The campaign toolkit includes social media assets, films, posters, pocket guides, email banners and community resources. Please signpost your teams and partners to download the campaign toolkit here, with all the digital assets available on the Float To Live website here.

• A recorded briefing about the campaign can be viewed here.

• A new case study about a young man called Euan who credits Float to Live with helping to save his life is available here.

• For those wanting to understand the evidence behind the campaign, this peer reviewed BMJ Injury Prevention article is useful.

• This year’s campaign will be supported by a paid media plan which goes live this week and runs until early July across Ireland and the UK using the following channels – Digital radio & podcasts, outdoor digital posters and social media (Meta, Tiktok & Twitch).

Thanks for your support in helping share this lifesaving message.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the RNLI’s regional Water Safety Team - Chris, Rhian, Sarah and Tirion – on [email protected].