June is a critical time to remind everybody of the importance of being safe around water, as children prepare to launch themselves into the school summer holidays, and everyone plans to take some time enjoying the summer, often by water of some description, from paddling pools to the beach.
SPOT Spot the dangers – Look for dangers when ever you are near the water.
ADVICE Take advice – Read the signs, ask life guards and adults.
FRIEND Go with a friend – Always go with friends or family, it’s more fun and they can help in an emergency.
EMERGENCY Learn what to do in an emergency – Call 999 and shout for help. Never go into the water to help someone.
What is Drowning Prevention Week?
Drowning Prevention Week is the campaign of the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the drowning prevention charity.
By spreading water safety advice far and wide, Drowning Prevention Week aims to teach people how to stay safe in and around water. The Campaign also helps to raise valuable funds for our vital drowning prevention activity and to support those affected by drowning.
Why is it important?
Around 400 people drown in the UK every year and hundreds more suffer life changing injuries through near drowning. More people die from drowning in the UK than from domestic fires or road cycling accidents.
What can you do?
- Keep your family safe by making sure your children learn to swim as soon as they are able to, and that they also learn essential survival and self-rescue skills in a programme such as the Rookie Lifeguard Programme.
- Always take your family swimming where there are lifeguards, and remember there is no better supervision than the constant supervision of a parent or guardian (lifeguards have lots of people to watch, you can keep a much closer eye on your family)
Water Safety at Home
On average, more than 400 people drown in the UK each year. Nearly 60% of these are children and young people. We believe that the majority of drownings are preventable. Make sure that you and your loved-ones are not counted in next year’s drowning figures by following our guide to water safety at home.
Did you know that people can drown in as little as 2cm of water?
The number of drownings that occur around the home are low compared to those at other locations. However, drownings around the home are also the most easily preventable.
- Always use self-closing gates, fences and locks to prevent children from gaining access to pools of water
- Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains
- Empty paddling pools and buckets as soon as they have been used. Always turn paddling pools upside down once empty
- Always supervise bath time (never leave children unattended). Empty the bath as soon as possible after use
- Vulnerable adults and people who suffer from sudden seizures should consider using showers rather than baths
Water Safety on Holiday
Each year UK citizens drown on holiday abroad so being aware of the basic principles of water safety on holiday, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase enjoyment and significantly reduce the number of deaths each year.
People preparing for their summer holidays should ensure simple advice is followed by all members of the family.
- When researching your holiday, or arriving at the destination if you haven’t yet done so, check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool/beach
- Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean
- Make sure the whole family can swim
- Swim with any children in your care – it’s more fun and you can keep them close and safe
- Never swim alone
- Follow the pool rules
- Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools
- Never enter the water after drinking alcohol
- On beaches check when the tide will be high and low and make sure that you won’t be cut off from the beach exit by the rising tide. Also be aware of dangerous rip-currents
- Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – each year there are drownings as people on inflatables are blown out to sea. Do not use them in open water
- Do not swim near to or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater or coral
- Swim parallel to the beach and close to the shore
Water Safety at the Beach
Top 10 beach safety tips
- Seek advice from your travel agent when booking a holiday to ask if the beach is safe and whether trained lifeguards will be on duty
- Be aware that the most common time for children to have accidents on holiday is within the first hour of a holiday when parents are unpacking and distracted. Parents should take care during this time to make sure that they know where their children are
- When you have unpacked, visit the beach and look for yourself what the potential dangers are before going into the sea
- While at the beach, never let your young children out of your reach –supervision is the key to preventing serious accidents
- Always ask for local advice, for example from lifeguards, tourist information offices, local coastguard stations, or even local fishermen, on where and when it is not safe to stroll on the beach or enter the water
- Do not swim near or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater and coral
- Water safety signage can be very different in different countries, so find out what local warning flags and signs mean – and adhere to them
- Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – there have been drownings as people on inflatables are blown out to sea and get into trouble. Do not use them in open water. Use them in sheltered and confined spaces, such as rock pools
- If you get stuck in quicksand or mud do not stand up. Lie down, spread your weight, shout for help and move slowly in a breaststroke action towards the shore
- If you witness an emergency, whether it is in the UK or overseas, know how to call for help
Tides
In the UK tides are relatively regular and predictable, yet despite this fact every year a number of people are caught out by rapidly rising water and end up being trapped in isolated bays. If you intend to venture across any beach or bank affected by tidal water make sure you know when the incoming tide is expected and know where all the exits are.
British beach flag signs
It must be remembered that beach flag systems are different across the world. However, current discussions are taking place to hopefully co-ordinate the flags for the future.
Red – don’t go into the water
Red half over yellow – lifeguarded area – swim between the flags
Orange wind sock – shows the direction of the wind. If the wind is blowing out to sea do not go into the water on an inflatable (NB Advice is never to go into the sea on an inflatable)
Black and white quarters – surfing area, swimmers keep out
Red and white quarters – shark warning (unusual in this country)
Swimming Pool Water Safety
Swimming Pool Safety Tips
- Keep young children under constant supervision
- Follow the pool rules (don’t dive into the shallow end)
- Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of the pool, especially at leisure pools and holiday resorts
- Never enter the water after drinking alcohol
Around 85% of accidental drownings occur at open water sites. Many of these drownings occur due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of open water safety. The basic principles of open water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase enjoyment of open water and significantly reduce the number of incidents that occur each year.
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as, lakes, rivers, canals, reservoirs and quarries. Flat or still water is defined as water that has minimal movement, except for locally induced wind currents. Examples include lakes, lochs, ponds, quarry pool and reservoirs. Flat water found in lakes and lochs is the safest open water natural environment. However, water is by its very nature hazardous and care must always be taken when being near water margins.
Lakes and Lochs can vary considerably in size, but they are commonly large expanses of deep, cold water, formed when natural basins fill with water flowing from rivers and streams or from the water table.
Open Water Safety
Open Water Safety Tips
The conditions at open water sites change constantly:
- Always look for warning and guidance signs
- Swim parallel with the shore, not away from it
- Avoid drifting in the currents
- Do not enter fast flowing water
- Be aware of underwater hazards
- Get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold
- Never enter the water after consuming alcohol
- Only enter the water in areas with adequate supervision and rescue cover
- Always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket for activities on the water or at the water’s edge (such as when boating or fishing)
- Always take someone with you when you go into or near water. If something goes wrong they will be able to get help
- If someone is in difficulty in the water shout reassurance to them and shout for help and call the emergency services (call 999 or 112)
- Without endangering yourself see if you can reach out to them with a stick, pole or item of clothing – lie down to ensure you stay secure. Alternatively throw something buoyant to them such as a ring buoy or anything that will float
Don’t:
- Swim at unsupervised (un-lifeguarded sites) including lakes, quarries reservoirs and rivers
- Jump into the water until you have acclimatised to the water temperature
- Jump into the water from heights or ‘tombstone’
- Swim into deep water which will be colder
Do:
- Swim at supervised (lifeguarded) sites
- Swim parallel with the shore, where you can quickly get to safety
- Swim with friends or family, so that you can help each other if you need to
- Look for signs and advice about the specific dangers at the place where you are swimming
- Think about what you will do if something goes wrong
- Contact a reputable outdoor pursuits or coasteering centre if you want to take part in more extreme activities
Dangers of open water include–
- The height of the fall or jump if tombstoning
- The depth of the water – this changes and is unpredictable
- Submerged objects may not be visible
- Obstacles or other people in the water
- Lack of safety equipment and increased difficulty for rescue
- The shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water
- Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
- Uneven banks and river beds
- Water quality eg toxic algal blooms and industrial/agricultural pollution
All of these hazards can be controlled through proper organisation and planning.
If someone is in difficulty in the water –
- Shout reassurance to them and shout for help and ensure the emergency services are on their way (call 999 or 112)
- Without endangering yourself, see if you can reach out to them, extend your reach with a stick, pole, item of clothing, lie down or stay secure. Alternatively throw something buoyant to them such as a ring buoy, part filled plastic container, ball or anything that will float.
- Keep your eye on them all the time and shout reassurance urging them to propel themselves to safety.
Around 85% of accidental drownings occur at open water sites. Many of these drownings occur due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of open water safety. The basic principles of open water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can increase enjoyment of open water and significantly reduce the number of incidents that occur each year.
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as, lakes, rivers, canals, reservoirs and quarries. Flat or still water is defined as water that has minimal movement, except for locally induced wind currents. Examples include lakes, lochs, ponds, quarry pool and reservoirs. Flat water found in lakes and lochs is the safest open water natural environment. However, water is by its very nature hazardous and care must always be taken when being near water margins.
Lakes and Lochs can vary considerably in size, but they are commonly large expanses of deep, cold water, formed when natural basins fill with water flowing from rivers and streams or from the water table.
The conditions at open water sites change constantly:
- Always look for warning and guidance signs
- Swim parallel with the shore, not away from it
- Avoid drifting in the currents
- Do not enter fast flowing water
- Be aware of underwater hazards
- Get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold
- Never enter the water after consuming alcohol
- Only enter the water in areas with adequate supervision and rescue cover
- Always wear a buoyancy aid or lifejacket for activities on the water or at the water’s edge (such as when boating or fishing)
- Always take someone with you when you go into or near water. If something goes wrong they will be able to get help
- If someone is in difficulty in the water shout reassurance to them and shout for help and call the emergency services (call 999 or 112)
- Without endangering yourself see if you can reach out to them with a stick, pole or item of clothing – lie down to ensure you stay secure. Alternatively throw something buoyant to them such as a ring buoy or anything that will float
Don’t:
- Swim at unsupervised (un-lifeguarded sites) including lakes, quarries reservoirs and rivers
- Jump into the water until you have acclimatised to the water temperature
- Jump into the water from heights or ‘tombstone’
- Swim into deep water which will be colder
Do:
- Swim at supervised (lifeguarded) sites
- Swim parallel with the shore, where you can quickly get to safety
- Swim with friends or family, so that you can help each other if you need to
- Look for signs and advice about the specific dangers at the place where you are swimming
- Think about what you will do if something goes wrong
- Contact a reputable outdoor pursuits or coasteering centre if you want to take part in more extreme activities
Dangers of open water include–
- The height of the fall or jump if tombstoning
- The depth of the water – this changes and is unpredictable
- Submerged objects may not be visible
- Obstacles or other people in the water
- Lack of safety equipment and increased difficulty for rescue
- The shock of cold water can make swimming difficult and increase the difficulty in getting out of the water
- Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away
- Uneven banks and river beds
- Water quality eg toxic algal blooms and industrial/agricultural pollution
All of these hazards can be controlled through proper organisation and planning.
If someone is in difficulty in the water –
- Shout reassurance to them and shout for help and ensure the emergency services are on their way (call 999 or 112)
- Without endangering yourself, see if you can reach out to them, extend your reach with a stick, pole, item of clothing, lie down or stay secure. Alternatively throw something buoyant to them such as a ring buoy, part filled plastic container, ball or anything that will float.
- Keep your eye on them all the time and shout reassurance urging them to propel themselves to safety.
Top 5 Open Water Safety Tips:
- Be aware of your surroundings and take notice of any warning signs when out and about
- When running or walking next to open water, stay well clear of bank edges. They are often unstable and this can create slips, trips and falls
- Try to always walk or run with a friend
- Always let someone know where you’re going – take your mobile phone
- Learn swimming and lifesaving skills
