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Water Safety for younger children

 

Drowning happens silently. A drowning child can’t speak or control their arms. It’s only in the movies they splash about and cry for help. 

 

Baths - At home, younger children are most likely to drown in the bath or garden pond. There may be no warning that something is wrong, as babies drown silently in as little as 5 cm of water.

 

 

 

Paddling Pools and Ponds - Drain paddling pools when not in use and cover hot tubs and garden ponds securely if fencing isn’t an option.

 

 

 

Water Safety for Older Children

 

As children become older and possibly stronger swimmers, it’s important to educate  them about water safety. They may still lack the strength and skills to get themselves out of trouble if they find themselves in strong currents or deep water, or discover too late dangerous objects lurking in the water.

 

 

At the beach - Swimming in an open body of water, like the sea is different from swimming in a pool. More energy is needed to handle the currents and other changing conditions in the open water.


If you do find yourself caught in a current, don't panic and don't fight the current. Try to swim parallel to the shore until you are able to get out of the current.

 

 

More information on water safety by the sea can be found on the RNLI Respect the Water webpages.

 

Tombstoning - Tombstoning is a high-risk, high-impact experience that can have severe and life-threatening consequences. This is because:

 

 

More information on tombstoning can be found on the RoSPA website.