Water Safety Information
When the weather is warm, we tend to hear about an increase of people, young people in particular, jumping into open water to cool off but this is a very bad idea and can be dangerous.
You should only ever enter open water if you are an experienced open water swimmer, part of an organised group or at a safe, designated and supervised site.
Shallow water often feels deceptively warmer at the edge of reservoirs, rivers, and lakes. Never jump into open water where deeper water is often much colder even in hot weather. Cold water shock can kill in 60 seconds.
Please take care when you’re near open water.
If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly:
- Take a minute, don’t try to swim straight away.
- Relax and float to catch your breath.
- Keep calm.
- Ask someone to call for help and phone 999.
Water Safety Lessons
Places Leisure, who maintain the Council’s swimming pools, base their swimming lessons around building life skills for individuals of any age and ability.
If you would like your child or yourself to become more water safety aware, find out more on their website.
Further information
RNLI - Float To Live – What To Do In An Emergency – RNLI
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue - Water safety and drowning prevention - South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
Sam's Army Mission 1 Life - Sam's Army's Mission 1 Life - Home
