Drowning Prevention Week Campaign Toolkit

Drowning Prevention Week Campaign Toolkit

Contents 1. About Drowning Prevention Week (DPW)...page 1 2. Our objectives...page 1 3.Our aims...page 2 4.Key statistics...page 2 5. Key messages...page 3 6. Social media...page 4 7. Press release...page 5-6 1.About DPW The annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign will run between 15-25 June 2018. The campaign, created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and this year run in partnership with the RNLI and Swim England, aims to reduce the number of drowning and near-drowning incidences that occur in the UK every year, by showing people how to be safe and have fun near water. The campaign encourages schools, clubs, leisure centres and communities, to promote water safety education through events, lessons, games and activities, in a bid to make people more aware of the dangers of water. 2. Our Objectives Increase the number of children receiving water safety education Reduce the number of drowning incidences Promote local and national drowning prevention projects and initiatives page 1

3.Our Aims The aim of DPW is to get people involved in: Promoting water safety to children and young people There is a great range of activities available for schools and youth groups, ranging from classroom based workshops to outdoor PE and orientation sessions. All are available to download FREE from the DPW website. All resources are available from watersafetyeducation.org. Family Fun and the Lifeguard Challenge Leisure centres and swimming pools around the country are encouraged to provide nine days of family fun, challenges and fundraising using the RLSS UK s leisure resources. Suggested activities include: The Rookie Lifeguard Big Weekend Have a go at the Rookie Lifeguard skills Free Save a Life Workshops Learn how to perform CPR The Lifeguard Challenge How fast can you tow a manikin? Free Swim Friday Fun in the pool for all the family Summer Holiday Safety Session All you ve ever wanted to know about keeping your family safe on holiday Pool to Pond Taster Session Find out how you can swim in open water safety 4. Key statistics Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, in the UK Over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year equivalent to one person drowning every 20 hours Hundreds more have near-drowning experiences, sometimes suffering life-changing injuries page 2

5. Key messages General message Keep your family safe around water by making sure they know the Water Safety Code: Whenever you are around the water: Stop and think look for the dangers, always read the signs Stay together never swim alone. Always go with friends or family In an emergency: Call 999 or 112 and shout for help Float if you fall in, float or swim on your back. Throw something in that floats to anyone that falls in. Summer safety messages At home Always use self-closing gates, fences and locks to prevent children from gaining access to pools of water Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains Empty paddling pools and buckets as soon as they have been used. Always turn paddling pools upside down once empty Always supervise bath time (never leave children unattended). Empty the bath as soon as possible after use On holiday When researching your holiday, or arriving at your destination, check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool or beach Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs find out what local warning signs and flags mean. Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools Swim with any children in your care it s more fun and you can keep them close and safe On beaches check when the tide will be high and low and make sure that you won t be cut off from the beach exit by the rising tide. Also, be aware of dangerous rip-currents Inflatables like dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard each year there are drownings as people on inflatables are blown out to sea. Do not use them in open water Do not swim near to or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater or coral Swim parallel to the beach and close to the shore page 3

6. Social media Social media post suggestions Drowning Prevention Week Facebook Drowning Prevention Week is happening between 15-25 June 2018 and we are proud to be supporting RLSS UK, RNLI and Swim England!. #STOPDROWNING #DPW. To find out more visit watersafetyeducation.org.uk Over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, some lifechanging, through near-drowning experiences. We are supporting Drowning Prevention Week between the 15-25 June 2018. #STOPDROWNING #DPW. To find out how you can get involved visit - watersafetyeducation.org.uk Twitter We are supporting Drowning Prevention Week between the 15-25 June 2018 #STOPDROWNING #DPW. More info - watersafetyeducation.org.uk General Facebook Over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, some lifechanging, through near-drowning experiences. Keep your family safe this summer with the RLSS UK s summer water safety messages bit.ly/summerwatersafety #STOPDROWNING Twitter Over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, some life-changing, through near-drowning experiences. Stay safe with RLSS UK s summer safety tips bit.ly/summerwatersafety #STOPDROWNING Drowning is a leading cause of child accidental death. Stay safe with RLSS UK summer tips bit.ly/ SummerWaterSafety #STOPDROWNING page 4

7. Press release template Reference: Date: Contact: Drowning Prevention Week 2018 Day/Month/Year Name, number & email Press Release <NAME OF ORGANISATION> is making waves with this year s Drowning Prevention Week campaign. <NAME OF ORGANISATION>, <LOCATION> will be making a splash this month when they take part in Drowning Prevention Week 2018. Drowning Prevention Week, created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and this year run in partnership with the RNLI and Swim England, will see a deluge of water safety activity flood the UK and Ireland from 15-25 June, 2018. The national campaign aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water, and a host of free resources have been produced to help supporters promote water safety. More than 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more have near-drowning experiences, sometimes suffering life-changing injuries. <NAME OF ORGANISATION> says it is proud to play its part in trying to reduce this figure, and will be <DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY> on <DATE AND TIME OF ACTIVITY>. <SPOKESPERSON NAME> from <NAME OF ORGANISATION> said: It is so important to remind people to stay safe near water, especially at this high-risk time of year. We are only too happy to be involved with Drowning Prevention Week. Di Steer, RLSS UK s Chief Executive, said: We urge as many people as possible to take advantage of the activities run by <NAME OF ORGANISATION>, and learn what could be potentially lifesaving skills. We thank <NAME OF ORGANISATION> for getting involved with the campaign, and for helping people learn the skills they need to stay safe and enjoy the water. page 5

For more information on Drowning Prevention Week Visit our website at rlss.org.uk Follow us on Twitter - @RLSSUK Visit our Facebook page facebook.com/rlssuk Let us know what you are doing for Drowning Prevention Week by tweeting @RLSSUK using the hashtags #DPW or #StopDrowning. Call 0300 323 0096 Ends Word count 305 Notes to Editors The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the Drowning Prevention Charity. More than 400 people drown in the UK every year and the RLSS UK aims to prevent drowning through water safety education. Through its trading subsidiary, IQL UK, there are more than 90,000 RLSS UK Pool Lifeguards in the UK trained in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). Around 95 per cent of all pool lifeguards are trained by the RLSS UK. RLSS UK awards and programmes teach a range of lifesaving skills ranging from life support (CPR) to water survival and rescue skills. Programmes include Rookie Lifeguard, Survive & Save and Save a Baby s Life (a free course aimed at parents and carers of young children). The RLSS UK (then the Life Saving Society) was formed in 1891. In 1904, as there was great support for the organisation from the Royal Family, the society was granted permission to use the Royal title and became the Royal Life Saving Society. page 6