Inland waterways can be as dangerous as the coast, Oxfordshire residents warned
40% of deaths of children by drowning in the past five years happened inland according to the Royal Life Saving Society.
Last updated 20th Jun 2024
People in Oxfordshire are being reminded inland waterways can be just as dangerous as the coast this Drowning Awareness Week.
That comes from the Royal Life Saving Society UK who are reminding people of the water safety code this Drowning Prevention Week.
As the weather gets warmer people entering bodies of water becomes more common. The forecast is currently for a heatwave next week.
The warning comes after a number of tragic fatalities in the water across the county already this year.
Teaching swimming is THE most important life skill we can teach our children according to a new survey. It found 1 in 5 people found swimming more useful in their adult life than most other subjects like science (17%), computing (15%),
The study to mark Drowning Prevention Week, highlighted how 42% were “very concerned” about the risk of drowning on a family holiday, more so than food poisoning (28%) or catching an illness (26%).
Over 70% of primary schools rely upon public swimming pools to do so, but, in recent years, many pool operators have faced rising energy costs of up to 150% which has threatened a reduction in programmes, and even the closure of some pools 2.
To help avoid these accidental deaths, the public are being urged not to jump in after someone - as difficult as they may seem - stay calm, stay on land and follow this 3-step rescue guide:
- Call 999 to get help immediately
- Tell the struggling person to float on their back
- Throw them something that floats
Matt Croxall from Royal Life Saving Society UK says it's not a good idea to go into the water after someone to try and rescue them;
"What that can do is exacerbate the problem, and it can end up with more than one casualty with the supposed rescuer getting into trouble themselves."
The Royal Life Saving Society UK campaign for water safety skills to be taught in schools like swimming lessons.
"Water safety isn't mandatory on the National Curriculum like swimming lessons are, and we would like to see that brought it."