Water Safety Partnership
Did you know that every year, in the UK, around 400 people die from drowning as a result of an accident in or around water?
Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in children, (NWSF, WAID 2018).
It's really important that children, from a young age, should be taught the dangers they may encounter around water. Not only in their home such as paddling pools and ponds, but also when out and about, such as at the swimming pool, near rivers, canals and the sea. The Water Safety Partnership is a joint partnership with Thames Valley Police and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to try to prevent as many water based fatalities and injuries as we can.
The following pages provide partners, parents and schools with key resources to use in Water Safety Messages.
Water safety report
The National Water Safety Forum has published its 2023 national drowning fatality report. There were 236 accidental fatalities in the UK in 2023 and a significant number occurred during June, July and August. Inland waters, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries, continue to be the leading locations for accidental drowning, with 63 per cent of deaths. Males continue to be over-represented, with 83 per cent of accidental fatalities.
