YORK’s two rivers have proved time and again just how dangerous they can be. The Press launched its Take Care! campaign in 2014 after the rivers claimed the lives of Megan Roberts, Ben Clarkson and Tyler Pearson.

Since then, Megan’s mum Jackie has campaigned nationally on river safety, York’s two universities have launched their own river safety awareness campaigns, and there have been attempts to put in additional safety measures along the banks of the Ouse. York even now has its own river rescue boat.

Yet still the tragedies have continued. Most recently, last year, we reported the death of University of York student Ethan Peters, whose body was found in the River Foss. In March this year, further tragedy was averted when students helped pull a man out of the Ouse in the early hours of the morning.

There have been countless warnings about the dangers of the rivers in this newspaper and elsewhere.

But you can never repeat those warnings too often.

So we are delighted that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has joined a national fire service awareness campaign, Be Water Aware.

The aim of the campaign is to reduce the number of drowning deaths by making people - including those who happen to be near rivers, such as walkers, runners and fishermen - more aware of the risks.

Perhaps the most powerful part of the campaign is the very practical advice the fire service gives in the event someone falls in the water. This includes to call 999 straight away, to use your phone’s map tool to give emergency services your precise location - and above all not to go in the water yourself.

The advice is sensible, practical and well judged. We’d urge anyone who ever goes near York’s rivers to read it.