Water Safety
Introduction
In the year ending 31 March 2025, there were 31 child (0–17 years) drowning deaths notified to Child Death Overview Panels in England; 9 fewer deaths than in the previous year. This represents a death rate of 2.63 per 1,000,000 children aged 0-17 years.
Across the six years from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2025, the total number of drowning deaths was 196, representing an estimated death rate of 2.77 per 1,000,000 children per year.
In May half-term 2026, at least 19 people across the country lost their lives to drowning.
Remember if you are in danger, or you see someone in danger call 999
➡️ In inland water, ask for FIRE
➡️ In the sea, ask for the COASTGUARD
➡️ If someone has gone under the water and cannot be seen, ask for POLICE
Summer Water Safety
Hot weather brings increased risks around water. Rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs may look inviting, but they can be extremely dangerous. Open water is unpredictable, often much colder than it looks, and can quickly lead to serious incidents.
To help keep children and young people safe this summer, please read and share the advice below:
- Avoid entering unsupervised open water – stick to supervised swimming areas
- Never jump or dive into open water – cold water shock can cause loss of breathing control and panic
- Stay away from the edges – uneven ground, slippery banks and hidden drop-offs can lead to falls into the water
- Do not swim alone – always stay with others and look out for each other
- Avoid alcohol near water – it significantly increases the risk of accidents and poor decision-making
- Be aware of hidden dangers – objects, strong currents and sudden depth changes are often not visible from the surface
- Supervise children at all times – even shallow water can be dangerous very quickly
Local Resources
Water safety letter from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
The information includes key safety messages about:
- The dangers of entering open water and walking on frozen water.
- The risks of cold water shock and drowning.
- The RNLI's "Float to Live" guidance, which could save lives in an emergency.
- A short water safety video that families can watch together.
Sam's Story
An animated video telling the real life story of Sam Haycock who sadly drowned when he jumped in Ulley Reservoir in Rotherham on a hot day in May 2021. Further information can be found on South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
National Resources
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is a leading charity in water safety. The charity’s warning comes as its latest Child Drowning Update reports that a total of 196 children have drowned in the last six years. On average this is 33 children per year; the same as the average classroom.
RLSS Water Safety Advice
Body of Water
The largest number of drowning deaths occurs in inland drowning water. 96 children over the six year period drowned in lakes, rivers, canals and other inland areas.
Summer water safety | Canal & River Trust
Winter Water Safety | Canal & River Trust
Quack, Quack, Take two steps back!
Canal and River Trust Online book that is aimed at toddlers and pre-school children to help them understand how to stay safe near water.
Home Safety
Home is where children deserve to feel safe, yet children consistently drown in the place they should be most protected. Children can drown quickly and often silently.
Splash Safely at Home | Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK )
RLSS is urging healthcare professionals and others working with families to help raise awareness of the risks associated with water in the home, with an initial focus on bath time. Baths are the second most common location for children to drown. 51 deaths have occurred in the bath from 2019-2025.
2 out of 3 drownings that occurred at home did so in the bath, and that most of the children affected were aged under five years.
Analysis of the drowning cases identified several factors as contributing to these deaths. The most common was a lack of adult supervision, where in 86% of cases, the child was unsupervised at the time of the incident. The charity has also undertaken some research amongst parents of children aged under five, to understand more about the behaviours typically seen around water at home.
RLSS UK’s Splash Safely at Home is a water safety campaign designed to educate parents and carers of babies, infants, and young children about the importance of home water safety precautions.
The ‘Splash Safely at Home’ campaign runs twice a year:
- May – focusing on water safety in the garden (paddling pools, hot tubs, ponds, etc.)
- October – focusing on water safety during bath time.
Bath Safety Video
National Child Mortality Database video
Advice includes:
- Constant supervision at bath time is essential.
- Babies need to be within arms reach at all times.
- There won't be anything to alert parents that something is wrong.
- Drowning can happen in very small amounts of water.
- It can happen very quickly and is almost invariably silent.
- Parents to have everything with them before they start.
- If you need to step away, take the baby with you.
- Older children can't be responsible for younger children in the bath even for a few moments. They won't necessarily know if something is wrong or be able to react quickly enough.
- Bath seats are not safety devices.
- Mobile phones can be a distraction during bath time, so leave them in another room.
- When bath time has finished, ensure all water has drained away.
Water Safety in the garden
The second most common location of drowning at home is outside, such as garden ponds, paddling pools, and hot tubs.
National Child Mortality Database video
Holiday Safety Around Water
National Child Mortality Database video,
Advice includes:
- Be alert to any water nearby. Check access to any swimming pools or other bodies of water when you arrive at your accommodation.
- Actively always supervise children in and around the water.
- Don't rely on older children to supervise younger children.
- Save inflatables for the swimming pool and always keep an eye on children using them. Remember, beach and pool conditions and safety standards vary considerably throughout the world.
- Parents shouldn't rely on lifeguards being present or other adults spotting that their child is in trouble in the water.