RLSS UK urges families to have fun but stay safe around water this summer holiday

As the summer months approach and families make the most of hot days to head to the beach, the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK) is urging them to stay safe in, on and around water.

Every year, around 60 children in the UK drown and the RLSS UK believes the majority of these deaths are preventable.

To help people stay safe this year, they are launching National Water Safety Awareness Week from 18 – 25 June 2011.

During the week, they will be highlighting the importance staying safe around water but still having fun.

Spokesperson for RLSS UK, Jane Cooper said: “There are 10,000 volunteers in the UK, that work tirelessly to teach their local community about keeping safe in the water. We’d like to celebrate the work they do as well as encourage other volunteers to get involved.
“It is also vitally important to highlight the dangers of water and how people can avoid getting into difficulty.”

RLSS UK have the following tips to help families stay safe around water this summer:

Teach your family to wave and shout if they get into difficulty – practice this whilst treading water.

Children need to know not to enter the water if someone else is in danger. Throwing a buoyant aid, stick, towel or whatever is at hand is the safest way to rescue a conscious person.

If you see someone in trouble stay calm and try shouting for help. If no-one comes and you can’t reach the person call 999.

But safety awareness around the home and garden is also essential. RLSS UK advises:

Fitting fencing around ponds or ponds

Do not use paddling pools without adult supervision

Ensuring paddling pools are emptied and turned upside down as soon as they are finished with

Checking the garden regularly for anything that could collect water, like buckets and wheelbarrows

Teaching water safety to children from a young age

Supervising youngsters closely when in parks or other places that might have a river, pond or lake.

Know where they are and who they are with.

Teaching children to swim at the earliest chance and make sure they can float and how to signal for help.

Teaching children how to get help if someone is in trouble including the importance of dialling 999

Following any safety advice or notices that may be present

In addition, there are a wealth of courses people can go on to learn basic life-saving skills, for more information, safety tips or details of training, contact RLSS UK on 01789 773994 or visit www.rlss.org.ukFor more information about National Water Safety Awareness Week and your nearest event, please visit www.lifesavers.org.uk