Water Safety on Holiday & At Home

As the holiday season approaches, are you, your family and friends aware of the dangers. Each year we see more unavoidable drowning's whilst on holiday. Are you aware aware of the basic principles of water safety whilst home and away. A basic knowledge and understanding of the hazards, can significantly reduce the number of deaths each year.

Drowning is silent. Are you prepared?

Water Safety on Holiday

• When researching your holiday, or arriving at the destination if you haven’t yet done so, check the safety arrangements of any water-based activities and if there is lifeguard cover at the pool/beach
• Check bathing sites for hazards, check the safest places to swim and always read the signs – find out what local warning signs and flags mean
• Make sure the whole family can swim (take swimming lessons)
• Swim with any children in your care – it’s more fun and you can keep them close and safe
• Never swim alone
• Follow the pool rules
• Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools
• Never enter the water after drinking alcohol
• On beaches check when the tide will be high and low and make sure that you won’t be cut off from the beach exit by the rising tide. Also be aware of dangerous rip-currents
• Inflatable dinghies or lilos are a well-known hazard – each year there are drownings as people on inflatables are blown out to sea. Do not use them in open water
• Do not swim near to or dive from rocks, piers, breakwater or coral
• Swim parallel to the beach and close to the shore
• Only use approved and tested buoyancy aids

Its not just while you are away, what about the dangers at home?

Guide to water safety at home

In the garden

• Never leave your child unattended around water. Babies can drown in as little as 2cm of water
• Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted
• Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult
• Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains
• Empty paddling pools, containers, buckets and watering cans, as soon as they have been used
• Always turn paddling pools and containers upside down once empty, so they do not collect water
• Securely cover all hot tubs and home spas as soon as possible after use
• Make sure older children are accompanied every time when they swim or use hot tubs
• Always install self-closing and self-latching gates, fences of at least four feet tall surrounding all sides of any pool, and locks to prevent children from gaining access to home pools or pools of water
• Install secure fencing around garden ponds (at least four feet high) to act as a barrier or add mesh or a grill on top of the pond (strong enough to support a child’s weight without dropping below the surface of the pond water)
• Always turn hosepipes off at the tap, so children cannot fill vessels themselves

Indoors

• Always supervise bath time (never leave children unattended)
• Empty the bath as soon as possible after use
• Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning
• Keep doors to bathrooms and utility rooms closed
• Vulnerable adults and people who suffer from sudden seizures should consider using showers rather than baths

In residential swimming pools

• Children and weak swimmers should always be closely supervised by an adult
• Weak swimmers should stay within the pool’s recommended safety depths
• Never swim alone
• Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools
• Control access to the pool by using suitable fencing, secure doors and gates, and pool or gate alarms, to monitor access to swimming pools where possible
• Never supervise children or enter the water yourself after drinking alcohol
• Have easy access to suitable rescue aids such as a torpedo buoy, rope or reach pole
• Know what to do in an emergency: learn first aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Always follow pool manufacturers advice for maintenance and safety checks
• Only use approved and tested buoyancy aids