Being next to water can help children be happier and healthier, but it’s important that they know how to stay safe. Spending a short time talking about water safety as family can make a difference.
Our Be Water Smart campaign is here to help you. It shares practical advice and useful resources to ensure your family has the right skills and knowledge to stay safe in and around water this summer.
Water safety information and advice
From the safety of the river’s edge, water can look extremely inviting. But many drownings occur due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of water safety.
These risks include:
- low temperatures, which can cause the body to go into cold shock and make it difficult to get out of the water.
- litter, like shopping trolleys and broken glass, which can trap your feet as well as cause injury.
- the depth of the water – it is difficult to estimate the depth of the water. It may be much deeper or shallower than expected, which can cause serious harm if jumping in.
- reeds and other plant life, which can get tangled around your limbs and keep you in the water.
- waterborne diseases such as Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease).
Teaching children about water safety
It’s never too early to start talking to your children about water safety. Learning to stay safe in and around water is important for every young person.
Where to enjoy water safely
There are lots of opportunities to enjoy water safely as a family in Cambridgeshire. Across the county you will find a variety of organisations and venues offering water activities in fun and safe spaces.
Water safety activities and resources
The following resources have been created with families in mind so that you can engage children of all ages in important water safety messages.
They will support you to deliver age-appropriate water safety advice and help children learn more about staying safe through interactive activities.
- Royal Life Saving Society UK – free printable resources to complete at home, including activity sheets, colouring in sheets and flashcards.
- Canal & River Trust – free resources for the whole family, including songs and poems, crafts and activity packs.
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - a variety of free downloadable activities, including quizzes, games and colouring in sheets.
Follow
Follow the campaign on social media, using the hashtag #BeWaterSmart:
- Facebook - www.facebook.com/CambridgeshireCC
- Instagram - www.instagram.com/cambridgeshirecountycouncil
- LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cambridgeshire-county-council
