booicore are supporting RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week

Here at booicore, our business is based on our best-selling kids hooded beach towel- so you have probably realised we are no strangers to water activities. Did you know, however, that over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year - the equivalent of one person drowning every 10 hours? Drowning is also one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in children in the UK as well. These frightening statistics are one of the reasons why the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is promoting Drowning Prevention Week- a campaign we are pleased to support - to make people more aware of the dangers of water and hopefully reduce the amount of drowning incidences.

Key Statistics

Some of the critical statistics RLSS UK have found include:

• More than 80% of accidental drownings are male
• More than 56% of accidental drowning victims never intended to be in the water
• 52% of accidental drownings occur in open water
• 34% of accidental drownings happen in the summer
• The highest percentage of drownings occur within the 20-29-year-old age band

Therefore, Drowning Prevention Week aims to promote water safety to children and young people through the use of free resources available to download from their website.

Key Message

There are three key messages that the RLSS UK are trying to get across and they are:

• Stop and think - read signs near water and look for any danger
• Stay together - never swim alone - always go with friends or family
• Float - if you fall in, float or swim on your back. If you see someone who has fallen in, throw them something that floats.

Some of the critical summer safety messages also include:

At Home:

• Use self-closing gates, fences and locks to prevent children from gaining access to pools
• Cover all water storage tanks and drains securely
• Empty paddling pools once they have been used and turn them upside down when empty
• Never leave children unattended in the bath and make sure it is drained immediately after use

On Holiday:

• Check whether there will be lifeguard cover at the pool or on the beach
• Check any hazards and local warning signs when you arrive
• Always swim with your children - not only is it safer, but it is more fun as well
• Do not use inflatables in open water

In Open Water

• Don't swim at unsupervised sites such as lakes, reservoirs and quarries
• Don't jump into the water from heights
• Don’t jump into the water until your body has had time to acclimatise to the temperature

Hopefully, this has given you something to think about. Keep an eye on social media to find Drowning Prevention Week activities in your area - and keep in mind the tips we have shared above when you are out and about with your family near water this summer. Stay safe, everyone.