At least 60 children in the UK drown during the summer every year, yet the majority of these deaths are preventable. Every parent wants to keep their child safe in and around water but watching them continuously isn?t always possible. We explore measures a parent can take to help their children stay safe.
On holiday each year around 75 Brits drown, with the majority of these incidents occurring within the first and last hour of the holiday. It is a quick solution to hectic packing and unpacking to send the kids off to play, but can you be sure they know how to look after themselves in and around water?
?Many parents believe that once their child has learnt to swim they are safe – this is not the case. They may be confident to enter the water, but often not competent enough to get themselves out of trouble?, says Jane Cooper, Communications Director at The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
Top tips
The RLSS UK is a registered charity whose mission is ?to safeguard lives in, on and near water?. They offer some basic skills you can teach your child that will help them stay safer in the water.
1. Teach them how to tread water – start with one minute and build up. With this ability they are likely to stay calmer and await help if they get into difficulties in the water.
2. Get them to practise climbing out the water without steps. Most natural waters don?t have an easy way out so get them to learn how to pull themselves out without assistance.
3. Teach them a basic wave and shout which they can use to signal for help if they get in trouble in the water. Get them to try this whilst treading water.
4. They need to learn how to throw a buoyant aid and talk someone to safety. It is important that children know not to enter the water if someone else is in danger and this is the safest way to rescue a conscious person.
5. Show them how to get help – e.g. ask a bystander to call 999.
A simple solution would be to register your children for a lifesaving and water safety course. The RLSS UK has launched Rookie Lifeguard, a children?s water safety programme designed to save young lives. Contact your local leisure centre or health club to see if they offer Rookie Lifeguard or a similar initiative.
Visit the Rookie Lifeguard website: http://www.lifesavers.org.uk/rookie/ to find out more about the programme, or http://www.lifesavers.org.uk/courses.html for nearby registered courses.
