Drive to improve safety in water

Drive to improve safety in water

4 June 2014

DOWNPATRICK School of Lifesaving is playing a key role in a national campaign to prevent drowning.

Using activities and resources provided by the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) UK — the drowning prevention charity — the Downpatrick organisation has been instructing children in water safety in support of Drowning Prevention Week which takes place between June 21 and 29.

The event aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water and in the run-up to drowning prevention week, the Downpatrick School of Lifesaving

decided to recognise the efforts of RLSS UK to promote the Water Safety Code.

“Shockingly, drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in children in the UK,” revealed Rhianna Rooney from the Downpatrick School of Lifesaving.

“Around 400 people drown in the UK each year and thousands more suffer near-drowning experiences, many resulting in life changing injuries.”

Rhianna said the Downpatrick group is happy to support the RLSS to reduce these numbers by informing its young members how to be safe near water.

During drowning prevention week, schools, leisure centres, organisations, businesses and lifesaving clubs will be holding activities to help raise awareness of how to be safe in, on or around water.

Further information about local lifesaving courses over the summer at the Down Leisure Centre and the outdoor Rock Pool in Newcastle is available by contacting Down Council and the Newcastle Centre respectively.