28 Jun 2019
Drowning accidents are especially high in the summer months and over the last few years, we have heard of too many tragedies that could have been avoided.
Every year people drown both at home and on holiday because they don’t take simple precautions, so reaching people with water safety messages is vital.
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) launched their drowning prevention week earlier this month.
The national campaign aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water.
More than 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year, that’s one every 10 hours, and many more suffer injury, sometimes life changing, when they survive drowning.
RLSS UK’s Director of Education, Mike Dunn, said: “Most people are surprised to learn that you are more likely to die from drowning than you are from being hit by a car or in a fire. We urge as many people as possible to take advantage of the activities that may be available in your local area and learn what could be potentially lifesaving skills.
Do you know how to stay safe around water? With the weather improving and summer fast approaching, teaching your family to be safe near water becomes increasingly important. Latest stats show that 56 children under the age of 11 years old drowned in the UK in the last 5 years, with more than 300 people accidentally drowning every year.
For every drowning death that occurs, there are more than 10 near drownings, with many of these leading to life changing injuries We are supporting RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention campaign, to help put water safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the lead up to summer, a high-risk time of year for drowning.
More information on how to stay safe round water is available via RLSS website.