Swim England is backing a nationwide campaign which aims to help families stay water safe and be more aware of the potential dangers of swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea.

The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) UK’s Drowning Prevention Week takes place from 12th-19th June.

It is the seventh year that the RLSS UK have staged the event, and its more important than even before due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic which has led to a reduced level of service provided by rescue and lifeguard services across the county – meaning people should take extra care when visiting beaches and inland water locations.

Swim England has team up with the RLSS UK and British Triathlon to create open water safety guidance – and is encouraging even the most experienced swimmers to fully assess the risks.

To raise awareness of Drowning Prevention Week, RLSS UK has produced a wide range of free, downloadable resources to help promote water safety through schools, swimming clubs, community ventures and businesses.

The charity hopes that the campaign will help see a reduction in approximately 700 people loosing their lives to drowning every year – and many more suffering life changing injuries following a water related incident.

To find out more about Drowning Prevention Week, please visit the RLSS UK website.