Parents and carers across County Durham and Darlington are being reminded that even small amounts of water can pose a serious risk to children as organisations come together to mark World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday 25 July.
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT), Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council have joined forces to share a water safety video featuring local families in real home and garden settings.
The video aims to highlight the importance of close supervision around water and encourage families to take simple steps to keep children safe.
While many people associate water safety with rivers, lakes and the coast, accidents can also happen much closer to home. Paddling pools, baths, ponds and even buckets of water can all present dangers to young children.
The video, which features local parents and children, focuses on everyday situations where vigilance is vital and reinforces the message that supervision saves lives.
The partners also strive to make the wider public aware of the dangers of open water and give people safety advice through swimming lessons, school assemblies, social media and digital displays.
Victoria Cooling, Consultant in Public Health at CDDFT, said: “As a mum myself, I know how important it is to take extra care with children around water. Many people do not realise that even a small amount of water can be dangerous, particularly for babies and young children.
“Simple actions can make a huge difference. Stay with children at bath time, empty paddling pools after use and never leave children alone near water.
“By taking these small steps and making water safety part of everyday family life, we can help prevent tragic accidents and keep children safe.”
Darlington Borough Council has been reinforcing key water safety messages in schools across the town, with its leisure services team delivering assemblies to around 20 primary schools each year.
The sessions include a powerful first-hand account from a member of staff who nearly drowned as a child, helping pupils understand the risks and how to stay safe around water.
The council also shares water safety advice through its social media channels and on digital screens in the town centre.
Councillor Jim Garner, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, said: “As families spend more time outdoors during the summer holidays, we want to encourage parents and carers to stay vigilant and make water safety a priority. Simple precautions and constant supervision can save lives.
“It is also important that we continue to educate older children and teenagers about the risks of open water. Helping young people understand the dangers of swimming in unsupervised locations, the effects of cold-water shock and how to stay safe around open water can make a real difference in preventing accidents and keeping our communities safe.”
Recent figures show that, in recent months, 17 people have tragically lost their lives to drowning nationally, 11 of whom were teenagers.
To support World Drowning Prevention Day, Durham County Council is offering free swimming sessions on 25 July for children and young people aged 18 and under at its leisure centres.
Free swimming will be available at all council swimming pool sites, excluding Spennymoor Leisure Centre, and includes general swimming sessions, fun sessions with rafts, floats and inflatables, and Splashability sessions.
Carers attending Splashability sessions must book online and provide proof at reception. Splashtot sessions, Aqua Fit and adult-only swimming sessions are excluded from the offer.
All children and young people aged 18 and under must have a Thrive card to access free swimming.
More than 5,500 people are currently enrolled in swimming lessons at the council’s leisure centres.
During Drowning Prevention Week in June, swimming teachers at the centres delivered important water safety advice during lessons including some for schoolchildren. These helped children build key skills such as reach rescues, safe entry and exit and float to live techniques.
The council has also worked with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to offer water safety assemblies in schools since 2019. These see Fiona Gosling, whose 14-year-old son Cameron died from cold water shock after jumping into a river, speak to children to make them aware of the risks of doing so.
David Gray, Chair of the County Durham Open Water Safety Group and Durham County Council’s health and safety manager, said: “World Drowning Prevention Day is another opportunity to remind people of all ages of the risks of being in water.
“That applies whether you’re thinking of going for a swim in a river, lake or reservoir, of if you young one is enjoying playing in their paddling pool or having a bath.
“There is plenty of information out there on the various risks water can pose and how to stay safe and we’d encourage people to take the time to make themselves aware.
“We’re pleased to have added to that information through this new video we’ve made with County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. In addition to the work we do to educate the wider public and try to prevent loss of life such as swimming lessons and assemblies.”
World Drowning Prevention Day, led by the United Nations, raises awareness of the devastating impact of drowning and promotes practical measures that can save lives.
Families are being encouraged to remember these important water safety messages:
- Stay with children at bath time
- Empty paddling pools, buckets and other containers after use
- Never leave children unsupervised near water
- Check gardens for potential hazards such as ponds and water features
- Talk to children about staying safe around water
- Don’t go into open water sites when there is no-one else around
- Don’t jump into water – go in slowly so your body can acclimatise to the temperature
- If you get into difficulty in the water, try and float – using your arms to help you do so, tilt your head back and call for help
- If you see someone in difficulty in the water, don’t go in after them. Phone 999 and if you can find a rope or something that will float, throw it to the person. If they get hold of the rope, try and pull them to safety.
As children spend more time outdoors during the school holidays, parents and carers are urged to remain alert and to make water safety a priority both at home and when out and about.
Supervision saves lives.