Nottingham Swim School, part of Nottingham City Council, is urging parents to make sure their children know how to stay safe and enjoy the water this summer.
Whether heading abroad this summer or opting for a staycation, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), fears that families will head to beaches and inland water locations this summer, without considering the potential dangers, putting themselves and others at risk. Those of us who will be venturing abroad for their summer holiday, may find themselves using non-lifeguarded pools and therefore be at risk if they do not have the necessary water safety skills.
Figures indicate that around 25 per cent of primary pupils leave school unable to swim, and experts fear that as a result of the pandemic, many young people lack the ability to swim or self-rescue.
Nottingham Swim School is supporting RLSS UK’s national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, this year running from 15-22 June 2024.
Drowning Prevention Week aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety.
Over 300 people accidentally drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, sometimes life-changing, when they survive drowning.
Nottingham Swim School Officer, Claire Sullivan said: “We are proud to play our part in ensuring our families have a safe summer. We recognise how vital it is for children to know how to stay safe near water and urge our parents to access RLSS UK’s free water safety resources on the Charity’s website, which includes fantastic theme week lesson plans to allow schools to incorporate the resources into our existing lessons. We want our pupils to enjoy all the fun and benefits of being in and around water but be educated on how to do that safely.”
The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: “The UK’s beautiful waterways should be places where everyone feels at ease, and can take pleasure from their surroundings, whatever their age, whatever their activity level. But we’re urging people to educate themselves and others on how to enjoy water safely and prevent a fun day out ending in tragedy.
“The Drowning Prevention Week campaign is crucial this year. In recent years, young people have missed out on the vital opportunity to swim, leaving a dramatic gap in school swimming and water safety education.
“RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy water safely. We urge as many parents as possible to get involved with the campaign, use our free online resources, and give their children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.”
Visit www.rlss.org.uk/DPW to access the Charity’s free water safety resources.
In addition, the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) will be visiting two Active Nottingham Leisure Centres during Drowning Prevention Week to promote water safety:
- Harvey Hadden Sports Village on Monday 17 and Wednesday 19 June between 4pm and 6pm
- Ken Martin Leisure Centre on Thursday 20 June between 4pm and 6pm (was previously 18 June)
OWEN – In memory of Owen Jenkins – was founded to educate children and young adults in Nottinghamshire about how to stay safe around open water and what to do in an emergency, whilst also working closely with water safety groups such as Fire & Rescue Service, Police Service and the Nottinghamshire Water Safety Partnership group. “Had my son Owen and his friends been educated about open water, its dangers and what to do in an emergency he may still be here today” – Nicola Jenkins.
