Fire service shares water safety message ahead of National Drowning Prevention Week

National Drowning Prevention Week starts tomorrow (Saturday) and firefighters are reminding people how to stay safe and enjoy the water.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s campaign runs from June 17-24.

The charity says water safety awareness is more important than ever, particularly because young people have missed out on vital school swimming lessons due to COVID-19 disruption.

Figures estimate that about 25 per cent of primary pupils leave school unable to swim and experts fear as a result of the pandemic, many young people lack the ability to swim or self-rescue.

Crews from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are backing Drowning Prevention Week.

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.

Neil Whiteman, community safety advisor, RBFRS, said: “We are urging people to take care around Berkshire’s waterways this year, particularly now as the warmer weather is upon us.

“RBFRS Prevention teams are working closely with our emergency service partners, local authorities and the Environment Agency across the Thames Valley to ensure water safety messaging reaches schools, leisure centres and members of our communities.

“We are proud to play our part in ensuring our families have a safe summer.”

The key message to remember if you see someone in trouble is ‘Call, Tell, Throw’.

This means you should call 999, tell the person to float on their back and throw them something to help them stay afloat.

Lee Heard, charity director at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, said: “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.