Parents & Children
Water Safety

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Water Safety

Being around water can be great fun, but children need to understand that water can be dangerous and conditions can change very quickly. We teach children to enjoy water safely and encourage families to regularly reinforce these important messages at home.

Children should always be actively supervised by a responsible adult when they are in or near water. This includes swimming pools, paddling pools, rivers, canals, reservoirs, lakes, ponds and the sea.

Our key water safety messages for children

STOP AND THINK – Look for dangers before going near or into water. Water may be colder, deeper or faster-flowing than it appears.

STAY TOGETHER – Always stay with a responsible adult when near water. Never go swimming in open water without appropriate adult supervision.

FLOAT – If you unexpectedly find yourself in the water, try to stay calm. Float on your back, keep your head back with your ears in the water, and try to control your breathing.

CALL 999 – If someone else is in trouble in the water, do not enter the water to rescue them. Call for help. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard at the coast or the appropriate emergency service inland.

Open water

Rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and other areas of open water can be particularly dangerous. Even strong swimmers can get into difficulty because of:

  • very cold water and cold-water shock

  • hidden objects and sudden changes in depth

  • strong currents and moving water

  • slippery or unstable banks

  • weeds and underwater hazards

  • difficulty getting back out of the water.

Children should never enter open water simply because it looks calm or because other people are swimming there.

At the beach

Families should choose a lifeguarded beach wherever possible, follow safety signs and flags and swim in designated areas. Children should remain closely supervised around the sea, even in shallow water.

Inflatables can quickly be blown away from the shore and should be used with great care.

Water safety at home

Young children can drown in very small amounts of water. Paddling pools, baths, garden ponds and containers of water therefore require careful supervision.

Children should never be left unattended in or around water, even for a short time.

Float to Live

We encourage families to learn the RNLI's Float to Live message:

If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, fight the instinct to thrash around. Lean back, extend your arms and legs, float and get your breathing under control. Call for help when you can.

Talking about water safety regularly helps children develop respect for water without making them frightened of it. We want our children to enjoy swimming and being around water while having the knowledge and confidence to make safe choices.

Enjoy the water. Respect the water. Know what to do in an emergency.

The Fire and Rescue Service have shared a link with schools to share with families from the Royal Life Saving Society. There is an educational Winter Safety Activity Booklet and colouring-in Sheet to help start those conversations.

Please find resources on the link: www.rlss.org.uk/winter-water-safety

As always we all need to remind all children about the dangers of being on or near ice. Keep safe!