This week, 14th June – 21st June 2025, is Drowning Prevention Week.
This is a national campaign, led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), which aims to raise awareness and reduce preventable deaths by drowning.
As summer approaches, it’s vital to help our communities, especially children, young people and their families, stay safe around water, both at home and outdoors.
Throughout Drowning Prevention Week, Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Safeguarding Children Partnerships will be sharing a range of drowning prevention resources, and top tips, to help raise awareness. We would suggest that these are cascaded within your teams.
Cumbria’s lakes, rivers and tarns are amongst the most visited in the UK. However, whilst these beauty spots attract thousands each year, they also pose serious risks, especially when it comes to cold water shock.
Cold water shock can happen in any water below 15°C, which includes most lakes and rivers all year round, even on hot summer days. It causes an involuntary gasp, rapid breathing and panic, which can lead to drowning in under 60 seconds. It can affect even the strongest swimmers. A child’s swimming ability in a pool, doesn't prepare them for the impact of cold water.
Cumbria's natural beauty comes with very real risks. In recent years, the county has seen several tragic drownings, including the drownings of children, in open water.
Windermere, the largest lake in England, is a particular hotspot for leisure activities, yet its depths remain cold year-round. Even in July, water temperatures can be below 14°C, just a few feet below the surface.
Similarly, Derwentwater has seen near-misses involving paddleboarders and swimmers caught in strong undercurrents, despite appearing calm on the surface.
- Between 2019 and 2023, 63% of accidental child drownings in England occurred in open water, such as rivers, lakes, canals and the sea.
- Over the same period, 25 children drowned in inland water across England.
- The majority of these drownings happened during warmer months, when people were more likely to swim or play near rivers and lakes.
- Many incidents occurred just metres from safety and within moments of entering the water.
- In Cumbria, local tragedies continue to highlight the importance of educating young people and families about open water safety.
We know that open water can be an attractive place for children and young people to play and congregate, particularly in good weather.
We want to ensure that children and young people are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep them as safe as possible when in cold water, and to reduce the risk of them experiencing cold water shock.
We would suggest that you share the resources within this 5 Minute Briefing, and below, with the children, young people and families that you work with:
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institute's Cold Water Shock Video – Watch here
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RLSS UK’s Water Safety Advice – Splash Safety at Your Pad
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For Schools, the RNLI have Education Resources you can use: RNLI Education Resources For Young People
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For Schools, please also consider delivering the Summer Water Safety resources/assembly to children and young people in your school, which are available within PolEd.
Please look out for tomorrow’s 5 Minute Briefing, where we will be focusing on “Staying Safe During Outdoor Leisure Activities”.
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