RoSPA Press Office : Press Releases : Water Safety

The death of a 17 year-old in a quarry pool could be the start of a spate of heatwave drownings unless people heed safety warnings, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today. The circumstances of the incident in Worcestershire are still unclear, but the pool has claimed a life in the past - like many similar stretches of water around the country. Full Story»

Fears over the high number of people drowning in the UK have prompted The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to stage a national conference to tackle the problem. RoSPA believes the issue needs to be given greater priority by managers of water sites and swimming pools. About 570 people drown in the UK each year. Latest figures showed 54 deaths among children, 50 per cent up on the previous year. Full Story»

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is warning people to stay off the ice this weekend as the big freeze continues. Dog owners are particularly at risk. Two children died when they went through the ice on a frozen lake in Ireland three weeks ago and others had narrow escapes. The last time there was a severe cold spell in Britain eight people died in ice-related drownings. Full Story»

Take a look down the garden and save a child’s life, says The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Hazards lurking in the back garden prove fatal to toddlers and young children every summer. New Government research which shows 80 per cent of pond drownings happen in the garden of a friend, relative or neighbour emphasises the need for parents to check out where their children are playing, and if it is safe. Full Story»

Last-minute decisions to watch the total eclipse could spell disaster on land and at sea for ill-prepared people, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today. With a week to go, RoSPA is urging people to plan properly if they want to enjoy the eclipse in safety on August 11. The Society fears holidaymakers wanting a better view will take to the water in totally unsuitable craft or without the experience to be at sea in darkness. Full Story»

With gardening growing in popularity, RoSPA today warned parents about the dangers water features pose to small children. Last year nine children aged under five drowned in garden ponds in the UK, and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents fears that extra interest in gardening could create new problems. Full Story»

More than 550 people drowned accidentally in the United Kingdom last year - with floods claiming an unusually high 21 lives, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents revealed today. Inland waters like rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and canals posed the biggest danger and led to 322 of the 552 drownings. Sixty-five people drowned in and around the home, 17 in swimming pools, 130 in coastal waters and 18 in docks and harbours. Full Story»

RoSPA is urging the public not to become complacent about safety this winter if temperatures plummet and canals, ponds and lakes start to freeze over. Despite repeated warnings, people continue to dice with death by skating or running on frozen water. Even strong swimmers will swiftly succumb to freezing water as victims of ice accidents become helpless with the cold within seconds. Latest figures from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents show those most at risk from drowning in icy water are children and men of all ages. Full Story»

The death of Midland schoolboy Raymond Southall is a tragic holiday reminder to everyone of the danger of water, a spokesman for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today. Last year 440 people drowned accidentally in the UK. And 48 of them were under 15 years-old - 39 of those were boys. Inland open waters - like pools, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, streams and canals - are a particular threat to children. Full Story»

Safety implications of the increasing popularity of indoor play areas are dealt with in a new video pack available from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Play Your Part is a supervisors guide to the safe and efficient operation of an indoor play area - there are now more than 1,000 in the UK alone. It includes a training and safety handbook with checklists of written questions for staff. Full Story»