Tread water safely with Uniroyal

When the summer holidays arrive thousands flee the wet weather for sunnier destinations abroad. Uniroyal launched a national summer safety campaign, aimed at keeping kids safe when playing in the sea or swimming pool.

Drowning is the third largest cause of accidental death among children under 16 in the UK, and over 70 children are reported to drown on holidays abroad each year. Uniroyal’s Tread Water Safely campaign will remind families about the dangers of water and provide tips to both parents and children on how to stay safe.

To spread the message, special water safety cards are being distributed through tyre retailers nationwide and a series of information roadshows are taking place at motorway service stations across the country.

Top water safety tips

Uniroyal has teamed up with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to offer some essential advice to keep you and your family safe near water this summer:

1.  Be prepared

Before setting off, check the latest weather conditions to see how they might affect your trip. This will ensure you are prepared for every eventuality.

2.  Know where to go

On arrival, check out where the help points are and make sure that you know where to go for safety information and advice. Keep a telephone and emergency phone numbers with you.

3.  Spot the dangers

Water may look safe, but it can be dangerous. Learn to spot and keep away from dangers.

4.  Take advice

Look out for notices, flags or information signs that warn of any dangers. Make sure that you understand what they mean and do what they tell you.

5.   Don’t go alone

Make sure children are well supervised by adults at all times in, on and around the water. Before allowing children to explore or play in an area where there is water, point out the dangers and establish where they are allowed to go and where they are not. Never let older children swim in unsupervised areas like quarries, canals or ponds – make it clear they are off limits and tell them why. Remember, we can all underestimate the depth of water.

6. Learn how to help

Know what to do in an emergency situation: shout; reach; throw; wade. Shout for help and send someone to call 999. Try to reach the person requiring assistance with an object such as a stick, branch or clothing. If there is a lifebelt or buoyancy aid, throw this towards the person. Do not jump into water to rescue someone – a drowning person may be very strong and pull you under the water too – and only wade in as a last resort.

7. Teach

Enrol children in swimming and water safety lessons. Learn some basic first aid skills, including resuscitation techniques.