The RNLI has released a new short film aimed at encouraging young people to remember its lifesaving ‘Float to Live’ advice as warm weather continues across the country.

The film titled Float, follows a 15-year-old boy enjoying a summer’s day with friends before getting into difficulty during a solo swim. Remembering the RNLI’s Float to Live advice, he resists the instinct to panic and instead floats on his back until he regains control of his breathing and is able to survive.

The charity says the film has been launched as temperatures are set to remain high into next week, with more people expected to visit beaches, rivers and lakes.

Last weekend, RNLI volunteers shared water safety advice with more than 83,000 supporters at Croke Park as part of the charity’s partnership with the GAA Healthy Clubs Programme.

The initiative aims to reach young people, who are among those most at risk of drowning.

Kate Eardley, Head of Global Drowning Prevention at the RNLI, said the organisation hopes the film will encourage more people to learn and share the Float to Live message.

She said more than 1,000 people have drowned in Ireland over the past decade, many of them young people, adding that the charity hopes the film will help save lives by raising awareness of what to do if someone gets into difficulty in the water.

The RNLI advises anyone who unexpectedly finds themselves struggling in the water to tilt their head back with their ears submerged, relax, control their breathing and spread their arms and legs to help them stay afloat. Once breathing is under control, people should call for help or swim to safety if they are able.

The charity is also reminding clubs, schools and community groups across Waterford that free Float to Live water safety talks are available through the RNLI lifeboat stations at Helvick Head, Tramore and Dunmore East.