"Councils want to make sure everyone is safe around water, which is why we are urging people to follow our advice to be careful and vigilant to the dangers."
Casual swimmers should be aware of the risk of drowning when taking a dip in the water during the hot weather, council leaders warn.
The Local Government Association, which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, has issued water safety advice after several people drowned while swimming in the recent hot weather over the past few weeks.
Last year 255 people died as a result of accidental drowning, including seven children under the age of nine.
With more people likely to be out near water during one of the longest spells of hot weather for many years, councils are urging everybody to be vigilant to the dangers of drowning, especially parents with children.
People are, in particular, being warned to be aware of the risk of cold water shock, which is one of the biggest causes of drowning. Even strong and confident swimmers can struggle and drown after jumping into cold and unpredictable seas, rivers, canals and lakes where temperatures can be as low as 15C in the summer - half that of typical swimming pools heated to 30C.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
“The recent deaths of those who have drowned are an absolute tragedy and the numbers who die every year from drowning are shocking.
“Councils want to make sure everyone is safe around water, which is why we are urging people to follow our advice to be careful and vigilant to the dangers.
“Many people will be tempted to cool off in the water during the hot weather, but even the strongest of swimmers need to be aware of the risks of drowning and cold water shock. What might look like a safe place to take a dip or have a swim could in fact be a danger.
“Our advice is always to swim in water that is clearly marked as safe and under the control of a lifeguard. Swimming in unknown water could lead to tragic consequences.”
Notes to editors
The LGA has published a water safety toolkit providing advice to councils on how to set up their own water safety partnerships to keep residents. This is available here
Case studies on how councils are helping residents to keep safe in water
Durham County Council
Durham County Council runs the nationally award-winning ‘Dying to be Cool’ campaign with the family of a teenager who died of cold water shock, to raise awareness of this risk among 10 to 16 year olds. The campaign has delivered assemblies to more than 14,000 schoolchildren and reached well over one million people on social media through a series of awareness raising videos. It has also seen the council deliver water safety sessions for hundreds of schoolchildren, at an outdoor swimming pool and a beach activity centre. For more information about the Dying to be Cool campaign.
Broxtowe Borough Council
In Nottinghamshire, Nicola Jenkins has founded the OWEN network (Open Water Education Initiative). Nicola’s son Owen, aged 13, lost his life in July 2017 after saving two friends from drowning in the River Trent. The Coroner called him ‘an exceptional person who put the safety of others before his own in an act in keeping with his personality.’ Owen’s tragic loss inspired his mother Nicola to develop the OWEN network, which teaches children and young people about the dangers of open water and the importance of staying safe. Broxtowe Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Ruth Hyde, has joined the OWEN network and become Chair of the Nottingham Water Safety Partnership to redouble its efforts to improve water safety in the county.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
In Stoke-on-Trent, a 13 year old Ryan Evans died after he found himself in difficulty whilst swimming with friends at nature reserve Westport Lake. To respond to this, Stoke-on-Trent Council has launched a major water safety campaign called ‘Swim Safer’ to ensure that children stay safe during the summer holidays and beyond. Stoke-on-Trent Council is working in partnership with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Staffordshire Police, the Royal Life Saving Society and media outlet the Sentinel. Glynn, the father of Ryan, has also supported the campaign as he is keen for the tragedy to be used as an example to other young people of the dangers associated with swimming in open water. As part of the campaign, hundreds of free swimming lessons are being offered at Fenton Manor Sports Complex in order to teach children how to be safe in and around water during the summer. The classes are aimed at all levels of abilities, including non-swimmers. Thousands of leaflets outlining the Water Safety Code are also being given out to children and young people throughout the summer. Find out more about the Swim Safer Campaign, the biggest water safety campaign to have taken place in the city.
"Mashirika ya maji yanataka kuhakikisha kila mtu yuko salama karibu na maji, na ndio sababu tunawaomba watu kufuata ushauri wetu kuwa waangalifu na tahadhari kwa hatari. """ Wanasafiri wa kawaida wanapaswa kuwa na ufahamu wa hatari ya kuzama wakati wa kuoga katika maji wakati wa hali ya hewa ya joto, viongozi wa baraza la kuonya. Chama cha Serikali za Mitaa cha Uingereza, ambacho kinawakilisha halmashauri 370 za Uingereza na Wales, kimetoa ushauri wa usalama wa maji baada ya watu kadhaa kuzama wakati wa kuogelea katika hali ya hewa ya joto katika wiki chache zilizopita. Mwaka jana watu 255 walifariki kutokana na mauaji ya maji, ikiwa ni pamoja na watoto saba wenye umri wa chini ya miaka tisa. Kwa kuwa watu wengi zaidi watakuwa karibu na maji wakati wa moja ya vipindi vya muda mrefu zaidi vya joto kwa miaka mingi, halmashauri zinawahimiza kila mtu kuwa macho kwa hatari za kuzama, haswa wazazi na watoto. Watu wanaonywa kuwa ni hatari ya kuanguka kwa maji baridi, ambayo ni moja ya sababu kuu za kuzama. Hata waogeleaji wenye nguvu na wenye kujiamini wanaweza kujikwaa na kuzama baada ya kuruka katika bahari, mito, mifereji na maziwa baridi na yasiyoweza kutabiriwa ambapo joto linaweza kuwa chini ya 15C wakati wa majira ya joto - nusu ya joto la mabwawa ya kuogelea ya kawaida yenye joto la 30C. "Clerk Simon Blackburn, Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Jumuiya salama na Nguvu ya LGA, alisema: ""Kifo cha hivi karibuni cha wale ambao wameficha ni msiba kabisa na idadi ya watu wanaokufa kila mwaka kutokana na kuzama ni ya kushangaza." "Mashirika ya maji yanataka kuhakikisha kila mtu yuko salama karibu na maji, na ndiyo sababu tunawaomba watu kufuata ushauri wetu wa kuwa makini na tahadhari kwa hatari.""" <unk>Watu wengi watajaribu kupoza maji wakati wa hali ya hewa ya joto, lakini hata waogeleaji wenye nguvu zaidi wanahitaji kuwa na ufahamu wa hatari za kuzama na mshtuko wa maji baridi. Mahali panapoonekana kuwa salama kwa ajili ya kuogelea au kuogelea, kunaweza kuwa hatari. <unk> Ushauri wetu ni daima kuogelea katika maji ambayo ni wazi alama kama salama na chini ya udhibiti wa lifeguard. Kuogelea katika maji yasiyojulikana kunaweza kusababisha matokeo mabaya. < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < p> < "Kama mfano, katika kampeni ya ""Kuwa na afya"" iliyofanyika katika Jimbo la Durham, Marekani, vijana waliokufa kutokana na maji baridi ya maji walipewa fursa ya kujihusisha na hatari ya kuogelea." Kampeni hiyo imetoa mikutano kwa zaidi ya wanafunzi 14,000 na kufikia zaidi ya watu milioni moja kwenye mitandao ya kijamii kupitia mfululizo wa video za kuongeza ufahamu. Mkutano huo pia ulifanyika katika kituo cha kuogelea cha nje na kituo cha shughuli za pwani. Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu kampeni ya Kufa kuwa Cool. Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano wa Mkutano. Owen, mwana wa Nicola, mwenye umri wa miaka 13, alipoteza maisha yake Julai 2017 baada ya kuwaokoa marafiki wawili kutoka kwa kuzama katika Mto Trent. "Mwanamume huyo aliandika: ""Mtu wa kipekee ambaye aliweka usalama wa wengine mbele ya wake mwenyewe katika tendo linalofaa utu wake, hasara ya Owen ilichochea mama yake Nicola kuanzisha mtandao wa OWEN, ambao unawafundisha watoto na vijana juu ya hatari za maji ya wazi na umuhimu wa kukaa salama." Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Baraza la Broxtowe, Ruth Hyde, amejiunga na mtandao wa OWEN na kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Ushirikiano wa Usalama wa Maji wa Nottingham ili kuongeza juhudi zake za kuboresha usalama wa maji katika kaunti. Mji wa Stoke-on-Trent, Uingereza, umekumbwa na msiba wa kuambukizwa na mgonjwa wa miaka 13 Ryan Evans, ambaye amekufa baada ya kuogelea na marafiki zake katika ziwa la Westport. "Kupitia kampeni ya ""Swim Safer"" iliyoanzishwa na Halmashauri ya Stoke-on-Trent, watoto wa Stoke-on-Trent wanafurahi na kufurahia likizo ya majira ya joto." Mkutano huo wa Stoke-on-Trent unafanyika katika jimbo la Staffordshire, na unajumuisha maafisa wa polisi, polisi wa Staffordshire, na shirika la kuokoa maisha la Royal Life. Baba ya Ryan, Glynn, pia ameunga mkono kampeni hiyo kwa kuwa anataka msiba huo utumiwe kama mfano kwa vijana wengine wa hatari zinazohusiana na kuogelea katika maji ya wazi. Katika kampeni hiyo, mamia ya masomo ya bure ya kuogelea yanatolewa katika Fenton Manor Sports Complex ili kuwafundisha watoto jinsi ya kuwa salama ndani na karibu na maji wakati wa majira ya joto. Madarasa ni lengo kwa ngazi zote za uwezo, ikiwa ni pamoja na wasio waogeleaji. Maelfu ya vijitabu vinavyoelezea Kanuni ya Usalama wa Maji pia vinatolewa kwa watoto na vijana wakati wa majira ya joto. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, kampeni ya ""Swim Safer"" ni kampeni ya kwanza ya usalama wa maji nchini Marekani."