#GetWaterWise: Petition calling for increased water safety education in schools hits 100k signatures
Becky Ramsay lost her son in a drowning incident, and wants children to receive more education about the risks of open water
A petition calling for increased water safety education in UK schools has received more than 100,000 signatures.
It was set up by Lancashire mum Becky Ramsay, whose son Dylan drowned in a quarry lake in 2011.
She's calling for children to be taught specifically about cold water shock and rip currents, as part of the national curriculum.
It comes as drowning prevention experts express their concern that water safety education could have been neglected while schools adapted to coronavirus closures and restrictions.
#GetWaterWise
254 people died by accidental drowning in the UK last year, and we're raising awareness of the issue with our #GetWaterWise campaign.
It's highlighting the risks of swimming in open water, where unexpected currents, freezing cold water and even heavy machinery can lead to severe accidents and deaths.
Deaths are at their highest over the summer months, when people think its safe to cool off in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and the sea.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue play their part
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with a number of partner agencies to help keep the two counties’ year 6 pupils, aged 10 and 11, safe by launching a new initiative.
Safezone has a section specifically for water safety where children can learn about all the risks of entering unsafe water.
It's been funded through the fire service, as well at the Police and Crime Commissioner and the West Mercia Police's Road Safety Team, and is being rolled out across schools in the region.
Caroline Webster, Senior Prevention Technician for HW Fire, said: "After the pandemic we noticed there had been a gap in this sort of education for children.
"It's so important children are aware of the risks. Quite often if you don't empower children to make good choices and they don't know the risks they can't take the actions to keep themselves safe.
"So by highlighting the risks to them they can then know how to make themselves safe.
"And year 6 is such an important year for a lot of our young people, they're just starting to realise the freedoms they may have so it's vital we make them aware of any risks so they can make good choices to make themselves safe."
The Safe Zone Challenge can be accessed using this link https://www.safe-zone.uk/
Water safety debate in Parliament
The petition will now be debated in Parliament on Monday 12th July, with MPs having the chance to discuss Becky's proposals and see how further education can be included in the wider curriculum.
Explaining why she wanted people to support the petition, Becky wrote: "I've been a water safety campaigner for nearly 10 years. In 2011 my 1st born son went for what he thought was an innocent swim, sadly it cost him his life.
"Life's never been the same.
"Many people lose their lives due to a slip, trip or fall. Runners, walkers & cyclists are all high-risk categories where drownings are concerned.
"I've tried & failed many times to get water safety on the national curriculum.
"The Government should review and enhance curriculum content on water safety, so schools are required to ensure that all children know about and know how to deal with issues such as cold water shock and rip currents.
"It will soon be the 10-year anniversary of Dylan’s death. I never want you to feel the pain I do."
Responding to the petition when it reached 10k signatures, the Department for Education said: "The Department expresses its sincere condolences to the family of Dylan Ramsay and is working closely with water safety organisations to support schools to teach water safety effectively.
"The Department expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dylan Ramsay. Too many people lose their lives to drowning incidents each year and the Department recognises the role that water safety education plays in helping prevent accidents.
"Water safety is a vital life skill, which is why it is a mandatory part of the curriculum for Physical Education at primary school. The curriculum states that pupils should be taught to perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. The Department recognises that children have missed out on opportunities to be taught how to swim and to be safe in and around water due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Department is continuing to work closely with Swim England, The Royal Life Saving Society UK, Canal and River Trust and the Association for Physical Education to support pupils being taught how to swim and to be taught water safety through a number of routes.
Read the response in full on the parliamentary petition website
#GetWaterWise Water Safety tips
Follow this advice, and stay safe around water
During hot summer days, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and the sea can look really tempting.
But beneath the surface can lie hidden dangers, cold temperatures an unexpected currents.
The Royal Life Saving Society has this advice to stay safe.
Look out for lifeguards
If you're looking for a place to cool off always find a lifeguarded swimming site.
It’s colder than it looks
Water at open water and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.
Don’t go too far
Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you're never too far away from it.
It's stronger than it looks
Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a riptide – don't swim against it – you'll tire yourself out. Swim with the current and call for help.
Bring a friend
Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong you've got someone there to help.