This week marks the Royal Lifesaving Society’s Drowning Prevention Week.

Teaching water safety is our No.1 priority here at Turtle Tots. Of course, our award-winning baby, toddler & preschool swimming programme is designed to be great fun and a wonderful bonding experience for parents to share with their little ones however, each and every lesson we teach contains vital lifesaving skills that will help your child to stay safe in and around the water as they grow.

The RLSS Drowning Prevention Week comes at a key time. As we look forward to summer holidays by the pool or on the beach, it’s important that we remind ourselves of the importance of water safety. We all want swimming to be fun, but water safety is subject we should all take very seriously.

We share in the RLSS’ belief that no child should drown and that with the right water safety education, accidental drownings can be preventable. Sadly, 307 UK and Irish lives are lost every year to accidental drowning and what’s more, child drowning deaths in England have doubled in the last 4 years. We must continue to work together to provide the education our children need to understand the risks that swimming pools and open water can pose, and the skills our children need to stay safe where possible.

Therefore, we are happy to share the following water safety guidance for parents and carers:

At the Swimming Pool:

• Young children are attracted to water and will always need to be kept under constant adult supervision.
• Always follow the pool rules (don’t dive into the shallow end).
• Always take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of the pool, especially at leisure pools and holiday resorts abroad.
• Be warned that drains and water inlets can trap fingers and hair – always point these out to children so that they understand the danger

At the Beach:

• Once you have unpacked, take a walk to the beach and look out for any dangers before going into the sea – always look to see if there is a lifeguard on duty.
• Water safety signage can be very different in different countries. Always find out (ask the lifeguard or hotel rep) what local warning flags and signs mean.
• Generally, on the continent a ‘Red for Danger’ or ‘Yellow for Caution’ and a ‘Green Safe to Swim’ flag system is used, but often a bit on the liberal side.  It’s always better to be safe and swim only when the ‘Green’ flag is showing.
• Do not swim near or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater and coral.
• Do not use inflatable dinghies or lilos in open water – only use them in sheltered and confined spaces, such as rock pools.
• Always swim parallel to the shore rather than out to sea – and stay within your depth.
• Understand what rip tides are.
• If partaking in organised on-water activities, always make sure children wear a life jacket.
• If you witness an emergency, whether it is in the UK or overseas, always know how to call for help.

Always follow the Water Safety Code

To make the Water Safety Code easy to absorb, the RLSS have produced the following video which we urge you to watch and share with your family and friends: https://youtu.be/zwzB7So7jSM

How to talk to your children about Water Safety

Drowning prevention is a big concept for young children to understand. The RLSS have lots of resources on their website that can help you communicate the importance of water safety to your children without causing concern.

CLICK HERE to find colouring and activity sheets, flashcards and stickers that your children will love. There is also a ‘Colour in to WIN’ competition where your little one could be in with a chance of winning a limited-edition ‘Drowning Prevention Superstar’ pin badge.

If you have slightly older children, you may like to share with them the following animation which tells the story of a young girl who learns to be more confident in the water through the RLSS Rookie Lifesaving Club: https://youtu.be/mYs-fbvie2k

 

Baring in mind all the above, we hope that all our little Turtle Tots and their families enjoy a sun filled, fun filled holiday this summer. And, don’t forget:

1. When picking a new swimming costume for your little one, pick a bright, contrasting colour to blue so that your child is highly visible in the pool.
2. Choose a water-resistant high factor sun cream – and reapplying after being in the water.  Coloured sun creams are also a fun way to make sure all areas are protected!
3. Invest in some UV protective sunwear – when playing in the water, children risk washing off their sun cream.
4. Minimise the time spent in the mid-day sun.  For example, make sure when going to the beach, there is a place where children can cool off and relax in the shade after swimming.  Consider going to the beach early when it’s cooler, or later in the afternoon.
5. Take a break. Playing in the pool can be very tiring for young children, so for their safety, consider a siesta after lunch or play some games in the shade for a while.