From Saturday 13 to Saturday 20 June, Fylde Council is proudly supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to help children, families and visitors enjoy the Fylde Coast’s beaches and waterways safely this summer.
For over a decade, RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week has aimed to equip educators, teachers, parents, and carers of children with vital water safety knowledge ahead of the summer months, when drownings are most likely to occur.
Over the last five years, 3,615 people have tragically drowned in the UK and Ireland. This year, Drowning Prevention Week is expanding to reach 13–17-year-olds, as recent data reveals that drowning deaths among this age group have increased an alarming 67% between 2020–2022 and 2023–2025.
Knowing how to swim is a great skill, but it is not enough to stay safe in the water. True competency and confidence in and around water require knowledge of the Water Safety Code, including always staying together, stopping to think about and assess the dangers before getting into the water and understanding what to do in an emergency.
Drowning is preventable. In addition to sharing water safety messages to keep individuals safe, RLSS UK is campaigning for systemic drowning prevention by advocating for lifeguards and lifesavers, training bystanders, and developing unified water safety policies with the Government.
Councillor Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing at Fylde Council, said: “Every summer, we see families and visitors flock to the Fylde Coast to enjoy our beautiful beaches – and we want everyone to have a wonderful time, but to do so safely. What people often don’t realise is that our coastline can be deceptively dangerous. Tides on the Fylde Coast can change quickly and without warning, and shallow-looking waters can prove fatal. You do not need to be out of your depth to drown.
“Sadly, the deaths we have witnessed across the UK during recent warm weather spells serve as a devastating reminder that water can claim lives in an instant. These tragedies are not confined to the open sea; rivers, lakes, and seemingly calm coastal waters all carry risks that must never be underestimated.
“Fylde Council fully supports RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week, and I urge every resident, parent and visitor to take a moment to familiarise themselves and their families with the Water Safety Code before heading to our shores. Please look out for safety signage, never swim alone and always supervise children closely near water. Your safety matters to us.”
Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety and Education at RLSS UK, said: “We urge everyone to use RLSS UK’s free, accessible water safety resources to educate children and teens with critical information this June, to make sure everyone has a safe summer. Whilst a foundation of water safety will be included in England’s school curriculum from September, this vital information needs to be taught now, ahead of the summer period, and across the entire UK and Ireland to prevent tragedies. We can all contribute to creating communities free from drowning.”
Visit RLSS UK’s website now to access free water safety resources for children, parents, carers and educators: https://www.rlss.org.uk/dpw. Share these tools with your community and help create a safer summer for everyone.
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