Tag: water safety

RLSS UK and partners aim to make UK’s aqua parks among the safest in the world

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is working with The Aqua Parks Association UK & Ireland to ensure the safety of the fast-growing industry as the UK looks forward to another bumper staycation summer.

Aqua parks first launched in the UK in 2015. Today, there are approximately 65 parks in the UK. Suitable for adults and children alike, the floating assault courses offer a variety of obstacles ranging from climbing walls and trampolines to water slides and runways.

The sector has boomed during the pandemic with the launch of new parks and established operators expanding their aqua park offering. 

RLSS UK is working closely with The Aqua Parks Association UK & Ireland – formerly the Aqua Parks Steering Group – to promote safety standards in the industry to maintain public confidence in UK aqua parks.

The association has developed a set of minimum industry standards and launched the UK’s first accreditation scheme for aqua parks. The accreditation scheme introduced a recognised and consistent safety standard, making accredited UK aqua parks some of the safest in the world. As appointed auditor for the association, RLSS UK audits parks that have signed up to the accreditation scheme.

Consumers should look out for aqua parks that hold the Industry Approved Aqua Park status; awarded to aqua parks that have met the operational and equipment standards set out within the guidance.

There are two accreditations: ‘Silver’ shows that an aqua park has the correct documents, procedures, staff, and training in place for all the sessions they run, while the ‘Gold’ accreditation indicates that the aqua park not only meets all the operational standards demanded by ‘Silver’ accreditation but also that all its equipment has been third-party tested to meet ISO 25649.

(The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organisations).

Helen Bowker-Steer, Head of Commercial Services, said: “It is an exciting time for the aqua park industry – the development of the Aqua Park Association UK and Ireland in 2021 is a huge step forward.

“The industry now has a voice. It also has an elected board of individuals with the safety and success of the industry at its core. As the auditing partner for the Aqua Parks Association UK and Ireland, RLSS UK is committed to supporting all aqua parks which sign up for the industry approved process.”

From Down Under to the UK: Lifeguard Maxi spreads water safety message with RLSS UK

This April will see TV star Trent Maxwell, more commonly known as ‘Lifeguard Maxi’ swap Australia’s world famous Bondi Beach for the waters of the UK and Ireland on a tour to spread the message about water safety. 

To kickstart the tour, Maxi will be joined by former Olympian, Sports Scientist, Physical Activity Expert and trainer to the stars, Professor Greg Whyte OBE for an open water sunrise swim at Caversham Lakes in Reading on April 8th.

For the rest of his trip Maxi will be working with national charity and leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding training across the UK and Ireland, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to volunteer his time to deliver the important water safety messages to children across the UK and Ireland.

On his open water sunrise swim, Maxi said: “An open water swim with the legend Greg Whyte will be a brilliant, but chilly start to my tour! I can’t wait to then set off and meet with children across the UK to spread the word about water safety.

“Delivering these key messages might mean that lives can be saved this summer and beyond.”

Greg added: “’As a result of lockdown 2 million children missed the opportunity to swim leading to 1 million children leaving primary school unable to swim.

“Maxi’s campaign, in collaboration with RLSS UK, to deliver his water safety message has never been more important. I can’t wait to swim at sunrise with Maxi, it will be a few degrees colder that Bondi!”

Open water swimming has seen a rise in popularity over recent years with its benefits well documented.

Charity Director at RLSS UK, Lee Heard said: “There are numerous fantastic benefits to participating in open water swimming such as boosting your immune system; activating endorphins for a natural high; improving your circulation; reducing stress; as well as being a great form of exercise. 

“To ensure that open water swimming can be enjoyed safely, we at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, have worked with Professor Greg Whyte to devise a cold water exposure 2 week home plan – Sponge to Plunge. The plan is a safe way to reduce the impact of cold water immersion so please take a look if you are looking to take the plunge!”

Ahead of his tour, where Maxi will visit RLSS UK Lifesaving Clubs to meet as many children and Rookie Lifeguards as possible, he added: “I want to meet as many kids as I can throughout April so together with RLSS UK we can prevent drowning this summer.

“Lifesaving clubs are at the heart of a community, they support young people and their families, so we all enjoy water safely, and return home at the end of day. They have been hit hard in the pandemic so we want to deliver some smiles, fun and most importantly valuable water safety lessons around the UK and Ireland ahead of summer.”

Maxi will be visiting numerous clubs throughout the UK and Ireland as he travels from Cornwall to Devon to South Wales to Nottingham. He then travels across the water to Ireland before returning to visit Scotland and the North East before he heads home for Sydney on 2nd May. 

Maxi and RLSS UK invite children from all communities to attend an event near them to learn more about water safety and discover a RLSS UK Lifesaving Club in their area. 

Lee Heard added: “Delivering water safety education is vitally important and working with Maxi to speak to even more young people is something we are excited about.

“In July 2021 we had 49 accidental drownings in just two weeks in UK waters, so delivering water safety messages such as this will help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy water safely in the future.” 

To help deliver the message Lifeguard Maxi and RLSS UK are calling for donations to help fund the not-for-profit tour to deliver the message to as many children in the UK and Ireland as possible. 

Maxi added: “We would love for you to give what you can and feel part of something special that is happening to prevent drowning this summer.”

All donors will be entered into a draw to win either: a chance to meet Maxi in person at an event in England, Scotland or Ireland; a signed book pack of Maxi’s four books with a Lifeguard Maxi pencil case and signed photograph; or a Maxis Rescue Squad T-shirt and one year’s membership to Maxi’s Rescue Squad online education program with pencil case and signed photographs.

To donate to the help spread water safety messages and prevent drownings, visit www.rlss.org.uk/Appeal/maxi-to-the-rescue. 

To find out more about Sponge to Plunge go www.rlss.org.uk/sponge-to-plunge

Follow us on Twitter – @RLSSUK

Visit our Facebook page – facebook.com/RLSSUK 

Call – 0300 323 0096

Young people speak up to give drowning the boot

National lifesaving charity warns there could be a steep  increase in accidental drownings this summer 

A rise in drowning figures has prompted the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)  to encourage parents to teach their children how to stay safe and enjoy water safely  this summer, as part of its national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, 19-26 June  2021. 

Throughout 2020 and 2021, millions of children have missed out on vital swimming, lifesaving  skills and water safety education during the pandemic due to pool closures, leaving a dramatic  gap in school swimming and water safety education.  

Young people from low incomes and ethnic minority communities have been the hardest hit.  A staggering 95 per cent of black adults and 80 per cent of black children do not swim, and  this gap has widened still further as a result of Covid-19. 

Accidental drowning takes an average of 402 UK and Irish citizens each year, and the Royal  Life Saving Society UK fears that with lockdown restrictions lifting and staycations on the up, families will flock to inland water locations and beaches this summer, without the right  knowledge and skills, putting themselves and others at risk.  

Fourteen-year-old Teya Davies tragically died after slipping into Sniggy Pond in Widnes, trying  to help her friend who had fallen into the water before her.

Teya’s story is not a ‘one off’- it’s  one of many, so RLSS UK has teamed up with Teya’s friends and family to create a powerful  video highlighting the importance of water safety, in Teya’s honour.  

Teya’s friend, Liv Eren said: “We sadly lost our friend, Teya, at the age of 14. When looking  back on Teya’s story, we now know how preventable her death could have been if only she  knew how to swim, or to keep herself safe in the water.

“We are pleased to do our bit to prevent  others from going through the heartache of losing a friend like we have.” 

RLSS UK’s Charity Director Lee Heard, said: “We are surrounded by opportunities to be in or  near water. Whatever their age and activity level, everyone should be having fun, creating  memories and feeling at ease around the water. The inequality in access to swimming and  water safety education, and subsequent lack of potential interaction with the water is a big concern.  

“RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy  water safely, have fun in the water and develop an essential life skill. We urge as many parents  and carers as possible to get involved with the campaign, use our free online resources, and  give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “We want every primary school pupil to learn to swim and to  have water safety lessons, not just because it can improve their physical health but also  because it is an important life skill.  

“The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s work in raising awareness about the importance of water  safety is very welcome, adding to the work we continue to do with schools to promote water  safety and swimming.  

“We must do all we can to eliminate the tragedy of children drowning.” 

Statistics (based on five-year average totals) show:  

• Over 55% of parents surveyed said they would not be confident their child would know what to  do if they fell into open water 

• 1 in 3 of those surveyed said their swimming abilities limited the activities they could do • Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children and the risk of drowning increases  from the age of 15 

• More than 46% never intended to be in water 

• 62.4% of accidental drowning happen in inland water 

• Over 80% of those who drown accidently, are male 

Drowning Prevention Week aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and  knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety. 

The Royal Life Saving Society UK believes that drowning is preventable and that even one drowning is  one too many. The Charity has produced a range of free water safety advice, resources and online  lessons to help parents, schools, leisure centres and other organisations to teach water safety to  children.