2 minute read
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) are on a mission to reduce the number of drowning and near-drowning incidents that occur in the UK and Ireland every year. We're proud to support their eighth annual Drowning Prevention Week (19-26 June 2021) campaign that encourages schools, clubs, leisure centres and communities to promote water safety education and make people more aware of the dangers of water.
In August 2018 Teya Davies was out with friends at Clincton Woods nature reserve, close to her home in Widnes. One of her friends fell off a log and slipped into a pond, Teya reached in to pull them out but got accidentally dragged into the water herself. Teya was pulled under the water and tragically her friends were unable to save her.
This tragedy could have been prevented if Teya had known how to swim and stay safe in the water.
In this moving film Teya’s friends and family talk about the importance of water safety.
Unfortunately, Teya’s story is not a one-off, it’s one of many stories of individuals who have lost their lives due to drowning. Over 400 people a year drown in the UK and Ireland, many of these deaths could have been prevented with better knowledge and understanding of water safety.
Now is a crucial time for water safety education. In the past 18 months, millions of children across the country have missed out on vital water safety lessons, due to Covid and lockdown. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have been the hardest hit. RLSS UK are working hard to remove these inequalities, helping to ensure that every child who leaves school is set up to enjoy the water safely.
Find out more about how you can get involved with Drowning Prevention Week and check out RLSS UK’s free water safety advice, resources and online lessons at www.rlss.org.uk.
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