A new report from the Water Safety All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) authored by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and supported by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), was launched this week on 21 June at Westminster by Chair of the APPG, Giles Watling MP.
The launch event, sponsored by TWF (The Wetsuit Factory), was attended by a number of MPs, including Giles Watling, MP for Clacton.
Giles Watling MP was able to show his support and meet with representatives from organisations such as RLSS UK, RNLI, Speedo, Water Babies, RoSPA, the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), the Maritime Coastal Agency (MCA), and key companies from the aquatics industry who contributed to the report. Former professional swimmer, Michael Gunning, was also in attendance as a key speaker supporting the launch of the campaign.
The report has provided a real picture of accidental drownings in the UK and uses data from the Water Accident Incident Database (WAID) as well as other data sources to provide the UK Government with evidence backed data on why the approach to drowning prevention needs to be improved.
Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK, presented the report findings at the event and highlighted the importance of educating everyone on water safety.
Lee said: “This report presents the current picture of UK drowning as analysed from 2022, and also identifies trends in relation to data over a five-year period. Progress is being made across the UK, however, the report clearly shows that we need enhanced Government involvement to collectively progress to deliver the current targets set by the NWSF, Water Safety Wales (WSW) and Water Safety Scotland (WSS).
“We are grateful to the great number of MPs, including Giles Watling MP Chair of the APPG for Water Safety, who attended the event yesterday and we look forward to working with the UK Government in working towards our recommendations which include innovative solutions to better deliver school swimming; mandating that every child should have a class-based water safety lesson at each key stage; and investing in initiatives to address the increase in child drowning fatalities.
“Together with other members of the NWSF, we will continue with our work and commitment to prevent future drownings.”
To view the report visit https://www.rlss.org.uk/national-drowning-report-uk
The report was launched in the week of RLSS UK’s annual Drowning Prevention Week, where the charity aims to educate children and their families on water safety to ensure they are able to enjoy water safely ahead of the summer holidays.
Drowning Prevention Week provides free resources to families to provide education for all. Visit www.rlss.org.uk/DPW for further information.