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 are sharing a range of drowning prevention resources, and top tips, to help raise awareness. We would suggest that these are cascaded within your teams.
As Drowning Prevention Week continues, today we are focusing on a place that’s often overlooked when it comes to water safety - our own homes.
For families with young children, the bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places in the house. Drowning doesn’t just happen in open water, it can happen quickly and quietly in the bath, even when the water level is low.
At least one child a month drowns in the home in the UK, most commonly in the bath.
These tragedies are often silent, fast and often happen when an adult leaves the room briefly, to answer the door, grab a towel or check on something.
Children need constant, close supervision when water is involved. That means being physically present and focused during bathtime.
Bathtime is often a fun, calming part of the day, but it comes with real risks.
Below are five simple steps that parents and carers should follow to help keep their child safe during bathtime:
Never leave your child alone in the bath, even for a moment. Don’t rely on older siblings for supervision. Babies and toddlers can slip under the water in silence, and they may not be able to turn themselves around.
- Take care when running the bath
Children are curious and quick. Always stay in the bathroom while the bath is running, even a few centimetres of water can be enough to cause harm.
- Pull the plug straight away
As soon as bath time is over, make sure that you empty the tub. A full bath left unattended can still pose a risk, if a child climbs back in.
- Avoid bath seats as a substitute for supervision
Baby bath seats may offer support, but they are not safety devices. They can tip and children can still slip under the water. Always supervise closely, even when a seat is being used.
Wet, soapy surfaces can be hazardous. Use non-slip mats or bath stickers and clean up water spills right away to help prevent accidents.
We want to ensure that families are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep their children as safe as possible within the home.
We would suggest that you share the resources provided within this 5 Minute Briefing, and below, with the families that you work with:
Please look out for tomorrow’s 5 Minute Briefing, where we will be focusing on “Risks of Paddling Pools, Hot Tubs and Domestic Water Features”.
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