Drowning Prevention Week
Whether it’s a river, a lake, a paddling pool or even a bathtub, water can pose a serious risk to young children or to teenagers.
With summer sunshine and warmer temperatures on the way, the risk becomes even greater.
This Drowning Prevention Week (14 – 21 June), we’re highlighting the importance of water safety for children under five and teenagers between 13 to 17, and offering guidance to parents and carers to keep their loved ones safe. the parents and carers of children under the age of five, together with children aged 13 to 17, are being targeted as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the danger water poses.
Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2023, 125 children drowned in England. Of these, 51 were in inland open water, such as lakes or rivers. Alarmingly, one child died every month at home home – two thirds of these deaths occuring in the bath, most involving children under the age of five.
NHS Frimley is joining national calls to raise awareness of the risks and to remind parents or carers that 86% of child drownings occurred when the child was unsupervised by an adult. Several children who drowned in the bath were using bath seats, demonstrating that using a bath seat is no substitute for proper supervision.
In addition to supervision, learning to swim is a key life skill. However, a quarter of Year 6 children across the UK are unable to swim 25 metres unaided. For children in low-income families, it can be as many as half of all children.
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) play a leading role in raising public awareness of the dangers of water and what to do to stay safe or reduce the risk. This includes the importance of restricting access to water for young children, of knowing how to float or swim, only swimming where lifeguards or other help are at hand, being aware of ‘cold water shock’ and being alert to water currents and the possibility of hidden underwater hazards.
More information can be found on the RLSS and RNLI websites.