RNLI and Swim England offer thousands more free Swim Safe sessions to children

Children enjoying a Swim Safe session © RNLI / Nathan Williams

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Swim England have this year joined forces with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to add 30,000 extra spaces to their free swimming programme, Swim Safe.

The sessions teach 7 to 14-year-olds how to stay safe in and around open water with more than 175,000 children having been taught vital lifesaving skills since Swim Safe was established in 2013.

RNLI lifeguards saved the lives of 34 children and teenagers aged 7 to 14 last summer and assisted another 7,777.

James Woodhouse of the RNLI's Water Safety team said: 'Statistics show that children and teenagers accounted for over half of those needing assistance by RNLI lifeguards on our beaches in the summer months last year.

'By educating them about water safety through the Swim Safe programme from a young age, together we can help reduce the number of incidents involving open water.

'Float to live is a simple technique where you tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can - this technique is proven to save lives.'

The UK's national governing body for sailing, powerboating, and windsurfing, the RYA, is working with the RNLI and Swim England by committing 15 of its activity centres to delivering the Swim Safe sessions as part of their watersports activities being undertaken by children.

The additional sessions, run through the RYA's OnBoard programme, will help to deliver lifesaving skills to an additional 30,000 children on top of the 18,000 public and school places already offered at other outdoor activity centres.

In August last year off the coast of Pembrey, South Wales, nine-year old Dexter was saved by using the Float technique.

Dexter was rescued by Burry Port RNLI after he found himself in difficulty and out of his depth. Thankfully, a passer-by, 12-year-old Theo, whose family are part of the local RNLI lifeboat crew, spotted Dexter in trouble and knew exactly what to do. He shouted to Dexter to Float on his back and stay calm until the RNLI arrived to rescue him.

James said: 'It's great to see children sharing our Float advice and helping save lives.'

Ashley Jones, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Manager for Swim England said: 'We're pleased to welcome the RYA onboard and their offer of delivering Swim Safe as part of their water-based activities. It is great to know that many more children will learn vital lifesaving skills as part of their booked courses through the RYA.

'To have the opportunity to reach an additional 30,000 children with these lifesaving skills is just incredible.'

Hannah Cockle, RYA OnBoard Manager, said: 'We're delighted to be involved with Swim Safe and to see clubs and centres delivering these sessions to youngsters as part of sailing and windsurfing lessons. Not only does Swim Safe save lives at sea but it helps to build water confidence, which we know is a barrier faced by many young people across the UK.'

The RNLI's key water safety advice for 7-14 year-olds is:

• Stop and think - Always swim in a safe place.
• Stay together - Always swim with an adult, younger children should always be within arms reach.
• Float to Live: tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can.
• Call 999 in an emergency and ask for the Coastguard.