A new water safety campaign has launched in County Durham and Darlington, with top NHS figures urging parents and carers to remember the risks posed by even small amounts of water. This comes ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day - Saturday July 25 - which will see leisure centres across County Durham offer free swimming lessons to under 18s.
Small steps for safety campaign
A jointly produced video campaign has been launched as part of what the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council have called the 'small steps for safety' campaign. The idea is to highlight the importance of close supervision of youngsters around water.
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.”
Additional safety efforts
A separate water safety campaign, supported by the Chronicle and former Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, saw a call to highlight the dangers of swimming in open water earlier this year - after the hottest May days on record. North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has also launched a summer safety campaign highlighting the dangers posed by open water.
As part of the campaign, both local authorities have taken steps to reinforce water safety messages. In Darlington, one member of staff has been recounting their terrifying near-death experience by drowning in school assemblies. Meanwhile, in County Durham, the council's swimming pool sites, excluding Spennymoor Leisure Centre, will be offering free lessons for youngsters, while during Drowning Prevention Week in June, swimming teachers highlighted vital water safety advice in lessons, too.
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, or 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.”
Coun 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.”
Key safety tips
The campaign is sharing key safety tips. These include: 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.
