Learning swimming can be a key 'life skill', says University of Worcester sports and exercise lecturer
Helen Hope is urging people to be safe around water as summer arrives
The deputy head of the school of sports and exercise at the University of Worcester says teaching children how to swim gives them a key life skill.
Helen Hope teaches her students at the university on the activity, and is calling for people to be safe around water as summer approaches.
It comes after research carried out by Better, showed people consider swimming more useful in adult life than some other subjects.
She says learning how to swim can help show people how to be safe, along with allowing them to meet new people and socialise.
"I think swimming is just a brilliant activity to to take part in, but it's also what I would consider a life skill, because at some point it could become a life saver," Helen said.
"It really helps young children with their coordination, and it makes them think about how swimming could be part of a healthy lifestyle, but also so when they go away on holidays they can get in the pool and swim with their families.
"We all know that reservoirs and quarries are not the best places to jump into and swim, but we've got some really simple guidelines to follow, such as thinking about where your swimming, and never swimming on your own.
"If we can continue to teach children in school these skills, then that will really help."