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- What can we do?
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Water brings a great deal of pleasure, excitement and adventure to most children, but more than 5,000 drown each year in the WHO European region.
Drowning - What can we do?
It is very important that young children are constantly supervised in or around water, including:
- Baths
- Garden ponds (often in a neighbouring garden)
- Paddling pools
- Domestic swimming pools
Simple steps can also be taken to reduce risks in these areas, e.g. RoSPA recommends filling in garden ponds, or turning them into sand pits, until children are over 5 years old.
Underestimating the currents in the sea and the strength and speed of rivers is sometimes an issue for older children, and it is, therefore, very important that they learn about the risks posed by being in or near the water, learn to swim, and learn good water survival skills. It is also vital that they understand the limits of their own swimming capability and how this can be significantly reduced when they are outdoors, in cold water.
Teaching young people about the water safety code is a good place to start when learning to respect the dangers posed by water. This can be summed up in the following key messages, which can be easily transferred to other leisure activities:
- Spot the danger
- Take safety advice
- Don't go alone
- Learn how to help
For more information download the Water Safety Code (
PDF 226kb)
For further information about what help and resources are available, visit our Drowning Links section.
