Schools will introduce a new Water Safety Code from the autumn, aimed at equipping primary and secondary school students with vital survival techniques in open water. This initiative seeks to address concerns raised by water safety organizations, particularly in light of recent data indicating that a significant percentage of drowning victims in the 8-18 age group were reportedly able to swim.
The current primary school curriculum mandates teaching children to swim 25 meters in a swimming pool, but the effectiveness and consistency of this instruction vary, with not all schools adhering to the requirement and monitoring proving difficult. The new Water Safety Code will focus on critical safety messages such as "Stop and Think," "Stay Together," "Float," and "Call 999."
Professor Mike Tipton, chair of the National Water Safety Forum and professor of physiology at Portsmouth University, emphasized that the ability to float is a key survival skill. He noted that proficiency in a swimming pool does not necessarily translate to safety in open water. Tipton explained the "float to live" technique, which involves rolling onto one's back, tilting the head back to keep the face out of the water, and minimizing movement to regain control of breathing, a process that can take about a minute.
According to data from the National Water Safety Forum, 61% of drowning victims between the ages of 8 and 18 were described by friends and family as being able to swim. This statistic underscores the need for updated safety education that prepares children for the realities of open water environments, which can be unpredictable and pose different challenges than controlled pool settings. The introduction of the Water Safety Code is intended to bridge this gap, providing children with the knowledge and skills to increase their chances of survival if they find themselves in distress in the water.