Stay safe over the holidays this summer

With (hopefully) beautiful Summer weather and the upcoming holiday break fast approaching, we thought it would be good to think about safety over the festive season.

Although holidays are the perfect time for water activities, be vigilant and aware of your water surroundings.

Below are some helpful tips to keep both yourself and your families safe around water activities:  

• The best thing parents and carers can do to protect children is to always supervise children around the water. Keep watch and keep them within arm’s reach.

• Avoid alcohol around the water. More than half of all adults will drink alcohol around the water this summer and we know alcohol is one of the biggest risk factors for drowning among adults.

• Wear a lifejacket when fishing or boating. There is a lifejacket for every activity and everybody. With the modern comfortable design of lifejackets there is really no excuse not to wear a lifejacket.

• No mater your skill level and confidence, avoid going alone. Thinking ‘it won’t happen to me’ is too often the call made, poor decision making can lead to tragedy.

• It’s important to know the conditions. Unfamiliar swimming, boating, and fishing spots increase the risk of drowning. Sandbars, rips, unpredictable currents, debris below the water surface and swiftly changing local conditions are all often well-known to locals, but harder to spot by visitors.

Swimming and water safety resources:

Below are also some helpful resources to assist with water safety:

• Royal lifesaving summer safety tips  
• Tips on watching children around water
• Alcohol and water safety

Enjoy your holidays, get plenty of sun and have safe water activities! And don't forget sunscreen and the Aeroguard!