Enjoy Leisure supports RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week to promote water safety

From 13-20 June, Enjoy Leisure in East Lothian is supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to help children and their families enjoy water safely.

For over a decade, RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week has aimed to equip educators, teachers, parents, and carers of children with vital water safety knowledge ahead of the summer months, when drownings are most likely to occur.

Knowing how to swim is a great skill – but it is not enough to stay safe in the water. True competency and confidence in and around water require knowledge of the Water Safety Code, including always staying together, stopping to think about and assess the dangers before getting into the water, and understanding what to do in an emergency.

Drowning is preventable. In addition to sharing water safety messages to keep individuals safe, RLSS UK is campaigning for systemic drowning prevention by advocating for lifeguards and lifesavers, training bystanders, and developing unified water safety policies with the Government.

Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety and Education at RLSS UK, said, “We urge everyone to use RLSS UK’s free, accessible water safety resources to educate children and teens with critical information this June, to make sure everyone has a safe summer. Whilst a foundation of water safety will be included in England’s school curriculum from September, this vital information needs to be taught now, ahead of the summer period, and across the entire UK and Ireland to prevent tragedies. We can all contribute to creating communities free from drowning.”

Bill Axon, Chief Executive of Enjoy Leisure, said, “We are proud to support the RLSS UK’s campaign. We keep Drowning Prevention Week activities fun and engaging for the children taking part while reinforcing key water safety messages: stop and think, stay together, call 999 and float.

“Activities will take place throughout the week during our swimming lessons. Due to the closure at Aubigny Sports Centre, children who attend lessons there will take part in the sessions the following week.”

Visit RLSS UK’s website now to access free water safety resources for children, parents, carers and educators: rlss.org.uk/dpw. Share these tools with your community and help create a safer summer for everyone.