Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children in the UK, with latest stats showing that, in the last five years, 48 children aged nine and under drowned, and 147 young people aged 10 to 19 lost their life.
Annually, around 400 people accidentally drown and summer months pose a particularly high-risk. Last year, 85 people drowned in July and August alone.
Drowning Prevention Week, the national campaign run by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water. This year running from 16 to 26 June, the campaign will see hundreds of leisure centres, schools, businesses and youth groups utilising RLSS UK’s water safety resources in their communities.
To find out how to stay safe around water this summer, contact your local leisure centre to see if they are running an event, or visit the RLSS UK’s website www.rlss.org.uk to access their water safety advice.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham said:
“It’s shocking to think that around 400 people needlessly die from drowning in the UK every year. It’s vitally important to get water safety at the forefront of people’s minds and I urge everyone to make sure that they, and their families, learn how to stay safe. “
Drowning Prevention Week also aims to raise money for the RLSS UK’s wider drowning prevention work, which includes providing support for families affected by drowning or near drowning.
Donate now by texting DPRW17 and an amount to 70070.
