KEEPING IT SAFE

RLSS UK’s flagship campaign is back, aiming to help swimming pool operators promote water safety and connect with their communities

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is urging swimming pools and leisure centres across the UK and Ireland to get involved with Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) 2025, its flagship annual campaign to promote water safety and reduce accidental drownings. The campaign, which runs from 14-21 June 2025, is both a public health initiative and an opportunity for pool operators to improve their visibility in the community, attract new users, drive footfall to their centres and keep their community safe. Drowning Prevention Week is strategically timed to take place before the school summer holidays – RLSS UK statistics show that 47% of child drownings in the UK occur between May and August, while 84% of UK child drownings take place in inland waters such as rivers, lakes and canals.

“Drowning Prevention Week allows leisure and pool operators to do more than teach swimming; it’s about saving lives. Every year, we are inspired by the creativity of operators as they engage with communities to educate children and families about water safety,” says Matt Croxall, Interim Charity Director at RLSS UK.

The campaign sees operators engage with local schools, youth groups and community organisations to host competitions and events, run talks and workshops, offer free taster sessions, host water safety demonstrations with the emergency services and much more.

“By participating in Drowning Prevention Week, operators can promote their facilities and programmes while meeting their Corporate Social Responsibility objectives and demonstrating their commitment to water safety in their community,” says Croxall.

Drowning Prevention Week allows leisure and pool operators to do more than teach swimming; it’s about saving lives

Policy

Everyone Active provided crucial water safety information to more than 200,000 children, with Coral Reef playing a pivotal role in the campaign

Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)

On average, 346 people accidentally lose their lives to drowning each year in the UK and Ireland, and the RLSS UK aims to prevent drowning through high-quality water safety education. RLSS UK is the leading provider of lifesaving and lifeguarding training and water safety education in the UK and Ireland. On average, RLSS UK lifeguards prevent one likely-in-water accident every six minutes.

More than 1.25 million children received water safety education using the free, downloadable educational resources during Drowning Prevention Week 2024. RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week is the national water safety awareness campaign to reduce the number of accidental drownings that occur each year and support families affected by drowning. The next campaign will run from 14-21 June 2025.

On the frontline

Coral Reef Waterworld, a popular waterpark in Bracknell, Berkshire, took part in the campaign for the first time in 2024, with positive results. Managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Bracknell Forest Council, Coral Reef was part of a nationwide initiative that saw 140 Everyone Active-managed leisure centres with pools engage in the annual water safety campaign. During the week, Everyone Active provided crucial water safety information to more than 200,000 children, with Coral Reef playing a pivotal role in the campaign.

To maximise community engagement and impact, the centre combined in-school workshops with a hands-on evening event, both offered for free. This was the first time Coral Reef staff had delivered educational content directly to local primary schools.

Targeting Year 5 and 6 students from two local schools, RLSS UK instructors used RLSS UK’s Water Smart and Save a Child’s Life materials to deliver comprehensive water safety education. The interactive sessions included water safety awareness, hazard recognition and emergency response techniques.

Coral Reef’s DPW activities culminated with an evening event at the centre, hosting more than 700 students and their families and offering a blend of fun and practical water safety education. Attendees participated in various activities, including retrieving a sinkable mannequin, CPR and first aid practice, and throw rope and reach pole exercises.

Lifeguards demonstrated rescue board rescues and explained the various rescue tools they use. The children and their families also enjoyed free access to the waterpark’s pools and slides for an enjoyable and educational experience.

Craig Flippance, General Manager at Coral Reef Waterworld, said: “The family night was absolutely incredible. With more than 700 attendees, it was the perfect way to reinforce the lessons from the previous week. We aimed to make learning about water hazards and lifesaving skills as engaging and hands-on as possible.

“Having good water safety awareness from a young age is absolutely essential. The more interactive and memorable we can make that education, the better prepared these children will be to stay safe around any body of water for life.”

Coral Reef’s DPW activities helped to develop stronger ties with the local community and fostered a sense of accomplishment and teamwork among staff members. Many team members reported deep satisfaction from engaging directly with the children and their families. The various activities kept the work dynamic and engaging, and the team appreciated the positive feedback from the school pupils, their teachers, and their parents, feeling that their efforts were truly valued.

Following the success of its DPW debut, Coral Reef Waterworld plans to expand its water safety outreach in the coming years, engaging with more local schools and increasing the number of workshops offered.

“We recognise the critical importance of water safety education and are proud to support RLSS UK’s campaign to introduce water safety into national curriculums,” Flippance added.

“Through Drowning Prevention Week, we aim to encourage children of all ages to engage with water safety, know what dangers to look out for, how to prepare to stay safe, and how to react should they or others get into trouble in or around water. This initiative helps us engage with new audiences and serves our communities in a meaningful and potentially life saving way.”