Free water safety sessions for families in Westmorland and Furness to prevent tragedies
Families urged to equip children with life-saving skills ahead of summer
Westmorland and Furness Council is encouraging families to participate in free water safety sessions this summer to prevent dangerous incidents in open water as school holidays approach.
This initiative comes after several recent deaths across the UK, underscoring the hazards of open water and the crucial need to understand emergency responses.
The sessions are designed for families with children aged seven to fourteen and will take place both in leisure centres and at open water sites throughout the area.
They offer essential life-saving skills, including the control of breathing during cold water shock, floating techniques to stay alive, recognising risks in open water, and how to assist someone in trouble.
In addition, secondary schools can organise funded sessions for pupils as part of their physical education programmes.
To participate, children need to have the ability to swim confidently for at least 25 metres without stopping.
This programme is a collaboration between Westmorland and Furness Council, the Cumbria Water Safety Partnership, GLL, and Barrow Forward, with the aim of reducing water-related deaths and enhancing community safety.
The focus is on practical techniques that could mean the difference between life and death in cold waters, recognising that swimming proficiency alone is insufficient—acquiring survival skills in open water is critical.
Parents and carers are advised to discuss water safety with their children and to reinforce the following principle:
“If you fall into water – float, breathe, and stay calm.”
Vicky Hughes, Cabinet Member for Planning and Active Wellbeing, said:
“We know that open water can be extremely dangerous, particularly for young people who may not recognise the risks.
I’m grateful to our partner organisations for working with us so swiftly to provide this local offer to our children and young people, following the recent tragic deaths across the UK.
These free sessions give families the knowledge and confidence to stay safe, and could genuinely save lives.”