More than 100 children across West Berkshire have already received certificates and golden medals for completing their Wild World Heroes Summer Reading Challenge. Congratulations to Elly and to Prince, pictured here at Newbury Library, and to everyone else who has now completed the challenge.
If you have children aged 4-11 who would like to take part in this fun, free activity, there is still time. All they need to do is to sign up in any West Berkshire library and then read six library books before 15 September to become a medal winner!
14 & 15 August, 10am - 5pm, Sainsburys Calcot
This weekend come and get your first or second Covid-19 Pfizer vaccination with the NHS Health on the Move drop-in clinic visiting Sainsburys Calcot. The vaccine is available to everyone 18 years or older and no appointments are necessary. Please note that second doses can only be administered 8 weeks or more since your first dose.
We will also have a community testing pop-up site here as well for you to collect self-test kits and be shown how to use them.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging the public to ‘respect the water’, after a surge in the number of accidental drownings during the recent heatwave. RoSPA's advice is to go swimming at properly-supervised sites, such as beaches, lidos or swimming pools.
In addition the RoSPA advises the public to follow local safety guidance and to exercise caution if drinking alcohol near water.
While temptation to jump into lakes, rivers and the sea is strong, water temperatures are considerably lower than in heated swimming pools. Many people aren’t prepared for the shock and blood rush that the cold causes and their arms and legs become useless and they can’t swim out of danger.
Swimming in and against a current is equally dangerous. Even shallow water, if it’s moving fast enough, it can knock people over and carry them away. Often rivers and lakes don’t have exits and there can be hazards such as obstructions in the water which you cannot see such as waterfalls or weirs.
The public are also reminded by RoSPA to ‘float to live’ if they find themselves getting into trouble in the water and to follow these steps: lean back and use your arms and legs to help you float, then get control of your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety.
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