Keeping Young People Safe This Summer

Do You Know Where Your Children Are This Summer?

As the summer holidays begin, children and young people will naturally want to spend more time outdoors with friends, enjoying the warm weather and making the most of their freedom. But as parents and carers, it's important to ask yourself: Do you know where your children are and what they're doing?

Every year, emergency services attend incidents involving young people swimming in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other open water locations. While they may look inviting on a hot day, open water can be far more dangerous than many people realise.

🚨 Why is open water swimming dangerous?

Unlike a swimming pool, open water is unpredictable. Hidden dangers can include:

• Cold water shock - Even on a warm day, water temperatures can be dangerously low. The shock can cause involuntary gasping, panic and difficulty breathing.

• Strong currents and undertows - Rivers, lakes and reservoirs can have powerful currents that are not visible from the surface, making it difficult for even strong swimmers to stay afloat.

• Sudden drops and hidden hazards - Deep water, submerged objects, rocks, vegetation and debris can cause injury or trap swimmers.

• Poor visibility - Murky water makes it difficult to see hazards and can make rescue efforts more challenging.

• Isolation - Many open water sites are in remote locations where emergency help may not be immediately available.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 What can parents and carers do?

✔ Know where your children are spending their time.

✔ Talk openly about the dangers of swimming in rivers, lakes, quarries and reservoirs.

✔ Encourage them to visit supervised swimming facilities instead.

✔ Make sure they know what to do in an emergency.

✔ Remind them never to enter the water to try and rescue a friend.

📞 If someone gets into difficulty in the water:

• Call 999 immediately and ask for the appropriate emergency service.

• Encourage the person to float on their back if they can.

• Throw something that floats to them if possible.

• Never put yourself at risk by entering the water.

This summer, a simple conversation could save a life. Please take a few moments to speak with your children about water safety and help them make safe choices while enjoying the holidays.