IMPORTANT REMINDER: Water Safety Guidance During Warm Weather

With this warmer weather spell and the summer months approaching, WSCP would like to remind everyone of the dangers around open water. As temperatures rise, children, young people, and families are likely to spend more time outdoors, so it’s important to raise awareness of the risks.

For more information, please visit:

• Wakefield Council: Water and fire safety
• WSCP: Water Safety – Wakefield Safeguarding Knowledge Hub

Key Water Safety Guidance (for CYP, families, and practitioners):

• Cold Water Shock: Sudden immersion in open water—even in warm weather—can cause an involuntary gasp, rapid breathing, and heart strain. This is one of the biggest risks for strong and weak swimmers alike.
• Hidden Hazards: Open water often contains unseen dangers such as strong currents, weeds, sudden drop-offs, and debris. These hazards can trap or disorient swimmers.
• Supervision Near Water: Children and young people should be closely supervised around rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, and even garden ponds. Drowning can be silent and fast.
•  Jumping Into Water: Jumping or diving into unknown water can lead to serious injury due to submerged objects or shallow areas.
• Inflatables Warning: Inflatables can easily be swept away by wind or currents. They are safest in supervised pools, not open water.

What To Do in an Emergency: If someone is in trouble:

• Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard (coastal) or Fire & Rescue (inland)
• Use the “Reach or Throw, Don’t Go” principle
• Keep eyes on the person and guide emergency services to the location

It is also currently Wakefield Water Safety Week  (25 to 30 May 2026)  Wakefield Water Safety Week 2026

Coordinated by Wakefield’s Water Safety Group, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is running a programme of free activities to show the dangers of jumping into or swimming in open water and what actions can be taken in an emergency.

Demonstrations are taking place across the Wakefield district during the week between 11am and 2pm. Full details of locations are available at: https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/parks-countryside-and-outdoor-spaces/water-and-fire-safety

Please feel free to share this information with the children, young people, and families you are working with.

There is a big new campaign by Respect The water which is Phone. Float. Throw. – more info linked below:

Phone Float Throw – Respect The Water

Phone Float Throw | National Water Safety Forum

Your support in promoting these safety messages is greatly appreciated.

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Why is water safety so important?
Data published by the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) shows that in the year ending 31 March 2025, 31 child drowning deaths (ages 0–17) were reported to Child Death Overview Panels in England (Figure 1). While this is 9 fewer deaths than the previous year, it still represents a rate of 2.63 per 1,000,000 children—highlighting that preventable risks remain.

Over the six-year period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2025, there were 196 child drowning deaths in total, equating to an estimated annual rate of 2.77 per 1,000,000 children. These figures reinforce the ongoing need for vigilance around water safety.

One child drowning is one too many. By prioritising safety awareness and consistently sharing clear, age-appropriate water safety messages, we can help children better understand risks and take steps to stay safe around water.