On average more than 400 people in the UK drown each year and frighteningly nearly 60% of these are children and young people. It is the third highest cause of death in children. This translates as one person every 20 hours dies from drowning or suffers life-changing injuries from near drowning.
No two incidents are ever the same, it doesn’t always happen like it did on Baywatch, some people simply slip under the water without a sound – how many times have you heard witnesses say, “I didn’t hear it happen”. For this reason you must always supervise children and vulnerable adults in or around water.
The Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) UK believe that the many of these tragedies are preventable, but what can you do to make sure your children stay safe in the water.
Water Safety on Holiday - RLSS UK’s top tips:
Check safety arrangements for water activities and if there is lifeguards on duty
Check for the safest places to swim – always pay attention to signs, flags and other local warning
Make sure everyone going in the water can swim – if anyone can’t make sure they are wearing appropriate swimming aids (we highly recommend SwimFin)
Swim with your children – keep them safe and have fun
Never swim alone
Always follow the pool rules and obey the lifeguard’s instructions
Check the pool layout, depth, water flow
Never enter the water after consuming alcohol
On the beach check the tides and beware of dangerous rip currents
Do not use inflatables in open water
Do not swim or dive near rocks, piers, breakwaters or coral
Always swim parallel to the beach and close to shore if you are swimming in the sea
Big Blue Recommendations:
Children of all ages and ability should be supervised in a pool
All children in beginner 2 and below require an swim aid when playing in a pool for an extended period of time. They do not have the swimming ability to be safe below this level.
Preschoolers should not be taught how to take their own aid off. If using a SwimFin the straps can be turned around and hidden through the foam fin to stop young children taking them off.
Preschoolers should wear a swimming aid at all times around a pool area. Young children especially believe they can swim and will happily enter the water without a parent.
Be extra cautious in beach entry pools where children can very quickly walk out of their depth and are unable to regain their footing.
Ensure that when using a swim aid with an inflatable the aid cannot become stuck trapping the child within or under the inflatable.