Top tips for swimming safely this summer
Give your water safety knowledge a boost
Heading to one of our pools, visiting the beach, or going for an outdoor swim elsewhere are some fun ways to cool off from the sun!
During the upcoming spells of hot weather, we want to remind people of the different ways to stay safe in and around water. Summer is a great time to enjoy different waterways, but it’s also important to keep in mind that warmer weather is directly linked to an increase in fatal drowning incidents.
Whether you’re swimming solo, with friends, or with the family, we’ve put together some top tips on how everybody can swim safely in summer:
Look for safety notices
Can your children tell the difference between a No Diving sign and a No Running sign at the pool? Do you know your beach warning flags?
Keeping an eye out for these should be one of the first things you do when you arrive to a new swimming spot, it will give you useful information and alert you of any possible dangers in the area. RLSS UK has some British beach flag signs here.
Plan ahead
There are lots of ways you can prepare in advance to make your swim a safe one. When heading out for a swim or even if you’re doing a water sport such as canoeing, make sure to check the weather and tide times – don’t get caught out by bad conditions.
Making yourself and others who you are with more visible is also beneficial, you could do this by packing a brightly coloured wetsuit or swim hat to wear.
Stay in lifeguarded areas
Some of the safest and best places to go swimming will have lifeguards on duty, just like our pools do. With their high level of water safety knowledge and training, lifeguards provide a huge level of safety and comfort should anybody get into trouble in the water.
Look out for red and yellow flags when you’re at the beach, these indicate which areas are operated by lifeguards and are the safest to swim in. Make sure to keep in between these flags while you’re swimming in the sea too!
Cover water vessels
Improving water safety at home is also crucial. After your little one has been in the bath or a paddling pool, they must be securely covered or emptied after use. With paddling pools, you can stop them from re-filling by turning them over or turning the hosepipe off at the tap so that children cannot fill it themselves.
Access to ponds and pools should be kept in mind too, installing secure fencing or adding netting to them can prevent children from gaining access.
The Water Safety Code by RLSS UK provides simple and easy-to-remember information that educates people on water safety and what to do in an emergency. Get to know it below:
There are many differences that comes with swimming outdoors compared to swimming in a pool. While they both make fantastic places to have a swim, we all must remember to take care of ourselves and each other while enjoying them. With the correct knowledge and judgement, accidents in and around water can be prevented.
Remember that children who take part in swimming lessons with us can swim for free outside of their lesson time*. Getting involved in our swimming sessions is a great way for them to cool off as the weather heats up and practice what they’ve been learning! Find out more about free swimming with us here.
Sources: Summer Water Safety (RLSS UK) | Water Safety at Home (RLSS UK) | Safety advice (HM Coastguard)
*The inclusion of free swimming with children’s swimming lessons excludes Inflatable Sessions at all centres, and Fun Sessions at Pavilions In The Park, Romsey Rapids Sports Complex, and The Triangle, and Fun for All sessions at Prudhoe Waterworld, Concordia Leisure Centre & Blyth Sports Centre.