The importance of water safety for all ages

Drowning is a leading cause of death among children aged 0-14 years. Water safety awareness will increase your knowledge of the risks associated with swimming and recreational activities at both coastal and inland waterways to ultimately reduce drowning deaths and related injuries.

But did you know that it’s possible to drown in as little as a few inches of water, not just pools, lakes or the ocean? Whether it's the bath, deep puddles, or other everyday water sources such as water tanks and buckets etc, making water safety a priority is crucial!

Knowledge of survival swimming and basic water safety skills can significantly reduce the risk of drowning, enhance community safety and build resilient children.

Keep reading to discover simple but life-saving tips to keep you and your loved ones safe around water.

Think outside the box – It could pay to remind yourself of water sources that may not usually occur to you, such as toilet bowls, garden ponds and water tanks as potential hazards

Supervise children at all times – Children can get into danger very quickly so always supervise them around water, never leave them unattended near any water source; even a momentary distraction can be dangerous

Walk, never run – Running near water can be very dangerous! Wet surfaces are slippery and falls could lead to injury.

Check water depth – Looks can be deceiving. Always check how deep water is before risking jumping or diving in. Diving or jumping into shallow water can cause serious injury.

Take regular breaks – Swimming is a fun but tiring activity! Taking regular breaks to catch your breath and stay hydrated during any physical activity is always recommended to minimize the risk of tiredness related injuries or accidents.

Cold water shock - This refers to a range of natural reactions that our bodies take to protect us when we enter cold water (although these reactions can sometimes work against us)

One of, if not the most important aspect of learning to swim is being safe in the water. At Swimtime, our swimming lessons are designed to include vital water safety skills from the very beginning of a swimmer’s learning journey, including safe entry and exit, floating and breathing techniques, regularly practicing these techniques in lessons, are taught very early on so that they become second nature.

You can see exactly what skills you or your swimmer would be learning at every stage with our helpful guide to the Swimtime Award Scheme.

By instilling water safety awareness from a young age, we can develop a lifelong understanding of the importance of taking precautions to stay safe around water. This knowledge will help empower you to make informed decisions and enable you to have fun while minimising the risks associated with water-related activities.