RLSS UK Lifesavers Magazine - June 2021

RLSS.ORG.UK | @RLSSUK

ISSUE 114 | JUNE 2021

Everything you need to know to enjoy water safely, inside!

Win

a family aqua park ticket Find out MOre on Page 40!

Lifeguard top tips

Education for all

Win WITH dryrobe!

Water safety advice straight from the horse’s mouth

Find out how to access our FREE education resources

Read on to find out how

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EDITOR’S COLUMN Claire Huggins

with

Welcome to the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s ‘Lifesavers’ magazine – a digital edition totally dedicated to our Drowning Prevention Week of action and setting us up for the summer!

Marketing The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the charity that Communications enhances communities, so everyone can enjoy being in, on Manager and around water, safely; because every life is worth saving.

More than 400 people accidently drown in the UK and Ireland EVERY YEAR and many more have non-fatal experiences, sometimes suffering life-changing injuries.

We believe that swimming is not just a lifesaving skill, it is a skill that opens up a world of fun and adventure in, on and around the water, regardless of age or ability.

This year, there are a number of factors combining to present a real risk to public safety: millions of youngsters have missed out on school swimming and water safety lessons, and when you know that 90 percent of black adults and 80 per cent of black children don’t swim - young people from low incomes and ethnically diverse communities, are set to be the hardest hit by the dramatic gap in water safety education. Adults are only just getting back to their water-based activities and with lockdown lifting in time for (hopefully) some good weather, the UK’s coast and inland waterways are set for a record number of visitors.

We need your help to get people safely back in the water for fitness, for fun and for mental and physical wellbeing.

Drowning Prevention Week is designed to help everyone make the right decisions and enjoy water safely, living the moments and loving the memories as we reconnect with loved ones this summer.

Join our online lifesaving community, share your stories, read news and keep up to date.

Search for RLSS UK LIVESAVERS is the magazine of the Royal Life Saving Society UK. We love to hear all of your news. Please send your news, stories and photographs to marketing@rlss.org.uk RLSS UK is a company Limited by Guarantee.

Registered Charity No’s. 1046060 and SC037912.

rlss.org.uk | 0300 323 0096

Our thanks to Michelle Morris for the use of the Aztec Adventure Water Park, Bromsgove images, used throughout this magazine.

Read on and discover an e-magazine jam-packed full of water safety advice, real-life stories, videos and ways you can get involved, helping everyone to enjoy water safely and save lives.

Please do download our FREE water safety advice, resources and online lessons.

We’ve had a ‘quacking’ fundraising idea that we’d love you to get on board with too.

Our virtual duck race is just £3 per duck and the prize for the race winner is a brand new dryrobe! Your generosity will help future generations enjoy water safely. You can read all about it on pages 16-17.

If you like what you see, why not share this magazine far and wide, it’s totally free to access and the contents will help save lives this year, and every year.

Thank you for your support.

Designed and produced for the Royal Life Saving Society UK by Gloss Media © RLSS UK 2021 All rights reserved. ISSN 0968 7726

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A warm welcome from

Johnny Ball Having voiced RLSS UK’s Radio 4 appeal in August last year, I am delighted to now be welcoming you to its Drowning Prevention Week digital magazine – your one-stop-shop for everything to do with water safety and the prevention of drowning.

With lockdown restrictions easing, so many more of us will soon be enjoying the UK’s great outdoors and many amazing and inviting bodies of water, whether that’s walking the dog, running, swimming, canoeing or having fun rock-pooling at the seaside.

I am pretty sure most grown-ups can remember a ‘near-miss’ with the water.

I recall coughing and spluttering, after under-estimating the temperature of the water and my own swimming ability, with my family rushing to help - one frightening memory I will never forget!

I urge you to spend a few minutes now, reading and learning how you can enjoy water safely, who knows…the knowledge you take onboard could save a life, and you never know - the life you save might just be your own.

And if you aren’t able to physically get involved, maybe you could donate to its work, donating what you can today, will help save lives tomorrow.

Share the advice, save a life and enjoy the water safely.

There can be no doubt – being in, on or around water gives a huge boost to both our mental and physical health and wellbeing, but with that pleasure comes the need for awareness; awareness of the risks, awareness of changing conditions, awareness of our own abilities.

After all, almost half of the people who drown in the UK, never intended to be in the water in the first place, and whilst swimming is the first defence against drowning, it isn’t always enough.

Fortunately, the work of RLSS UK and its partners is dedicated to making it easy and accessible for people to take more responsibility for their own actions around water and it’s all here, in this comprehensive and free digital magazine!

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Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) aims to equip everybody across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge, to make the right decisions about water safety.

Swimming isn’t just a critical lifesaving skill, it’s a skill that opens up a lifetime of fun and adventure in and on the water and throughout 2020 and 2021, millions of young people have missed out on the opportunity to swim, leaving a dramatic gap in school swimming and water safety education.

swimming and water-based activities as not only COVID-19 compliant but good fun, healthy and inclusive.

Through our ongoing work with national swimming government bodies, as well the support from its volunteers, customers and members, RLSS UK will use Drowning Prevention Week to address a sizeable gap in school swimming and water safety education.

Particular attention will also be paid to the worryingly low rates of participation in swimming and water safety activities by ethnic minorities in the UK, and will aim to break down the perceived barriers and increase involvement in those under-represented communities.

We’re already looking forward to World Drowning Prevention Day, 25 July 2021!

The foundation to the campaign, as ever, is to get the public understanding that it is both easy and worthwhile, knowing how to enjoy water safely, before they even leave home.

However, this year we are also working hard to better position

We need to get people back in the water, for fitness, for fun and for mental and physical wellbeing; DPW is designed to help everyone make the right decisions and enjoy water safely, living the moments and loving the memories.

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Swimming is not just a lifesaving skill, it is a skill that opens up a world of fun and adventure in, on and around the water, regardless of age or ability.

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DPW will be a source of expert tips and advice on how to get back in and on the water, safely for millions of adults, who’ve also missed out on their water-based activity sessions.

The UK’s beautiful waterways should be places where everyone feels at ease, and can take pleasure from their surroundings, whatever their age, whatever their activity level.

And we’re already well-equipped with a brand new campaign video (click here for video) and loads of free water-safety resources to help parents, schools, leisure centres and communities, give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water. https://www.rlss.org.uk/drowning-prevention-week

In the UK and Ireland, accidental drowning takes an average of 402 lives each year.

Drowning is preventable. Even one drowning is one too many.

www.rlss.org.uk /drowning-prevention-week RLSS UK SPRING / SUMMER 2021

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Education for all:

With summer on our doorsteps, we’re sure everyone is keen to get out and enjoy the UK’s beautiful water sites.

However, the lack of access to tuition, coupled with a desire to enjoy being out and about this summer is a real concern, so RLSS UK is calling on schools and families to aid us in our mission to educate children, giving them the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.

Equipping youngsters with the skills and know-how to stay safe while they make some magical memories in, on and around the water, is crucial to building water confidence, and reducing accidents and incidents from happening in the first place.

Our resources, which include lesson plans, presentations, games, PE activities and swimming sessions, are flexible to meet teachers’ and parents’ needs, and have been helpfully grouped into Pre-School, Primary and Secondary school resources. In addition, we have worked with the Youth Sport Trust to create a suite of SEND resources.

Our resources are available for free and have also been uploaded to the Times Education Supplement resource platform, connecting and supporting more than 13 million educators globally.

Click on this link and register your interest to open the door to a wealth of FREE education resources, for parents/guardians, schools/community groups and leisure centres/swimming clubs. https://www.rlss.org.uk/Pages/Category/water-safety-education

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all you need to dive into water safety lessons!

Parent Resources For this year’s Drowning Prevention Week, we have created new and exciting materials, exclusively for parents and guardians to take charge of their families own water safety education. We have also worked closely with Water Babies to offer parents resources for babies and pre-school children and can help you find your local lifesaving club.

Water can provide so much joy but at the same time has the potential to cause unimaginable tragedy. Spending a short time providing a sound water safety education for the whole family can make the difference for a planned day at the beach or the park resulting in everybody enjoying their day and returning home, safely.

Our free and easily accessible water safety education resources have been designed with you in mind so that from home, you can engage children of all ages in simple but lifesaving content.

Click here to download our FREE educational resources for parents https://www.rlss.org.uk/forms/iam-a-parent-or-guardian-andwant-to-support-drowningprevention-week

Leisure Centres/Swimming Clubs Whether you are incorporating water safety into your swimming lessons, delivering water safety at a local school, hosting bespoke dry or wet side events, or just displaying posters, there are a number of benefits to supporting Drowning Prevention Week. It can: Help you to reach new audiences with a potential for new membership Give you an opportunity to sell in some of your programmes Provide publicity opportunities in local, regional and national media Help you to meet corporate citizenship element of CSR Guarantee publicity via RLSS UK social media, newsletters and magazine Help reduce the number of accidental drownings in the UK

Click here to download our FREE educational resources for leisure centres/swimming clubs https://www.rlss.org.uk/forms/i-am-a-leisure-centreor-swim-school-looking-to-support-drowningprevention-week

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Schools and Community Groups

Pre-schoolers

Primary School

Secondary School

Designed to educate and entertain, these resources dip youngsters’ toes in the water for the start of their water safety journey. They are applicable for ages 3-7-years-old and include cartoons, an introduction to the Water Safety Code, drama and poetry activities.

We wade out a bit further with 7-11-yearolds, providing resources that include PE exercises, to get them ‘lifeguard’ fit, there‘s more depth on spotting and recognising water hazards, as well as challenging perceptions on where people drown. Puzzles get pupils thinking about water safety at home, and outside.

We take a final deeper dive into water safety issues for our 11-years+. The resources draw on real-life accounts of a drowning incident, to challenge the perceptions surrounding the cause of drowning. Accompanied by videos and flash cards, the exercises prompt frank discussions on the very real effects of risk-taking behaviour like tombstoning, explain exactly what cold water shock is and asks pupils to imagine themselves losing a friend to a drowning incident, then explore the thoughts and feelings of ‘Who’s Left Behind?’.

Water Safety at

Crossword the Swimming Pool Challenge Level

7-11

1 2

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4

6 7 8

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9 10

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WATER SAFETY BINGO

Sun Hat

Cap

Click here to download our FREE educational resources for schools/ community Groups https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/ category/schools-communitygroups

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Age no barrier

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In January of this year, boasting 18 studio albums to her name, power-ballad legend Bonnie Tyler, revealed how she learned to swim at the age of 69. She told the Daily Mirror: “I lost my nerve, and when I was in the swimming pool I just couldn’t let go of the float. Every time they tried to take the float off me, I went crazy. So I learnt to swim very late. It’s never too late!”

And in September last year, Hollywood star and comedy legend, Chris Rock, told the Hollywood Reporter, about how he was learning to swim, at the age of 55, as part of a new fitness regime for both his mental, and physical health. Not one to ever hold back, Rock said:

Photo care of: Stefan Brending

“The other day, this guy says to me, ‘OK, you’re going to dive into the deep end and swim to the other side,’ and I’m like, ‘Are you (...) crazy?’ But then I dove into the deep end and I swam to the other side, and it’s a metaphor for what I’ve been trying to do during this time.”

How many of us can recall learning to swim, jumping into the pool perhaps into a waiting parents arms, maybe even donning our first pair of armbands?

For many of us, learning to swim has been a rite of passage, much like learning to ride a bike or the first day at school but for many people, learning to swim is something approached much later in life, for a variety of reasons.

Below: April edition of Woman and Home ft. Nilgin Yusuf. With kind permission of publishers

SATtyEVliERshY age!

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RUTH LANGSFORD On love, loss and lockdown with Eamonn

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Now aged 54, Nilgin is over-joyed to be able to say “I’m just off for a swim”.

Initially, Nilgin only shared her swimming efforts with friends on Facebook, but it led to her writing about her experiences for Plant Mindful. She later went on to explore how middle-age can be the perfect time to learn new skills. Her piece ‘Worth the Wait’, featured in the April 2021 edition of ‘Woman & Home’ magazine, who’ve very kindly allowed us to share it here, read on…

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Shown Above: Chris Rock, image shown with kind permission of The Hollywood Reporter

Features writer Nilgin Yusuf, now a regular swimmer at Camberwell Recreation Centre, only started her swimming journey at the age of 52, after her husband brought her swimming lessons for her birthday.

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Over page: Woman and Home article by Nilgin Yusuf

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WORTH THE WAIT

Singer Bonnie Tyler learned to swim at 69, says Nilgin Yusuf, who explains why women in their prime are perfectly poised to learn new skills

L

ike Bonnie Tyler, who recently revealed she’d learned to swim, I too came to swimming in late life. For Bonnie, the impetus came when she fell from her yacht and had to be fished out of the water. For me, it was the gift of lessons for my 52nd birthday from my husband – the potential to fulfil a long-held dream.

Now, in lockdown, it’s one of the things I miss most. My local Victorian pool in south London, with its skylights and wrought-iron balcony, closed its doors to the public, and my thriceweekly trips to this urban oasis were replaced with long park walks.

Swimming is the fitness equivalent of a full massage that soothes the mind, body and soul. The ability to glide through water, at will, creates a feeling of lightness like flying, and the sensation of being physically supported while mentally released, is heart-racing, muscle-firming, blood-pumping, brain-cleansing bliss. Equal to the palpable pre-swim anticipation is the post-swim serenity that floods my system. After 30 lengths: 10 each of breaststroke, front crawl and backstroke, I return home, to duties and deadlines, with glowing satisfaction and a sense of can-do capability.

I’m sure my personal experience is intensified by the fact I came to swimming later in life. At those Saturday

52 womanandhome.com

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morning swimming lessons, I’d be put through my paces, gradually improving my breathing, technique and stamina. It took 18 months and plenty of practice but by 54, I was able to casually utter the words I’d dreamed of for decades; the words that kept me a weary gym hostage for so long: ‘I’m just going for a swim.’

All those years of visualising myself as a swimmer, waiting for the right time to properly learn, and finally the tangible reality of becoming waterborne and conquering my fear of water, have contributed to a sense of profound joy.

I wonder, if I’d been thrown into a pool as a baby and swam routinely, unthinkingly throughout my life, would I still be experiencing this delight?

It turns out there is a scientific reason behind the concept of delayed gratification.

THE WAITING GAME

Professor Carolyn Mair PhD, behavioural psychologist and author of The Psychology of Fashion, explains, ‘Increased levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are released during a period of working towards, or wanting, a desirable outcome.

Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter involved in many brain processes, including motivation to

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PHOTO (POSED BY MODEL): GETTY IMAGES. *TIME MAGAZINE, THIS IS THE AGE WHEN YOUR SELFESTEEM IS THE HIGHEST, 22 AUGUST 2018

simple pleasures

‘Delayed gratification can be tough, but the reward is likely to be more fulfilling’

achieve. It’s the effort, chase, search and striving that’s pleasurable – and the reward that’s most satisfying.

Delayed gratification can be tough, but the reward is likely to be more fulfilling, and worthwhile.’

Like it or not, waiting is a quality we’ve all had to grapple with during the past extraordinary year. As birthdays, holidays, weddings, Christmas and christenings were postponed, we waited for one set of governmental restrictions followed by another. We waited in queues for groceries and for the results of Covid tests, our own or those of others. If positive, we waited to see if the virus would take hold and how severe the strain would be.

Those with Long Covid waited for their former health to return. Some still wait. We waited for a vaccination to be developed, distributed and administered. When the Queen addressed the nation during the first wave, she twanged our heartstrings when she spoke of being reunited with loved ones, after this endurance of waiting, comparing it to sweethearts during the war.

Not all waiting feels positive. The agony of waiting for a bill you can’t pay, a legal resolution, medical diagnosis, operation or funeral should not be downplayed. Before Covid erupted, patience was arguably an outmoded trait. Millennials – dubbed the Now Generation – probably find waiting the most torturous. They were born into a free-flowing, wraparound, 24/7, click-and-buy culture. But we’re all guilty. Flicking through TV channels, buying online and swiping our phones, deciding in a nanosecond if something warrants our attention, usually based on a single, fleeting image – that’s the old normal.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

My 20s and teenage years were characterised by wanting and waiting.

In the pre-internet world, knowledge required a library trip, looking for books or waiting for them to be ordered. If you wanted something stylish or interesting to wear, it required resourcefulness, creativity and a well-planned expedition. Music would be hunted down in record

‘Before Covid erupted, patience was arguably an outmoded trait’ shops. To get something instantly was the exception, not the rule. So swimming has not been the only delayed thing in my life. In order, it was fitted carpets, boyfriends, music festivals, motherhood, wellington boots…

I waited for them all – and enjoyed them all the more. And, perhaps, I’m not so unusual. Women’s lives are shaped by biological forces – puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause – and there are numerous reasons for late blooming.

According to analysis of data from 165,000 people by Psychological Bulletin, the optimum age for confidence and self-esteem is 60*.

At this later stage of life, women are not only in an emotionally, intellectually and, often, financially better place to realise goals and dreams, but they are more confident.

SEIZE THE DAY

Professor Carolyn Mair elucidates, ‘Around the time of the menopause, women undergo huge physical and psychological changes. Although around 25% of women experience negative symptoms, many women see this as an opportunity to achieve what they have put on hold until now.

Confidence and self-esteem peak during middle age, so after life’s setbacks, disappointments and rejections, we know what’s important and care less what others think. We’re more likely to try things, jump at opportunities and look on the optimistic side while being realistic. We work hard and put in the effort, determined to achieve our goals, while we can.’

Yes, another unexpected gift via the pandemic is a heightened consciousness of life’s finiteness and death’s finality. So, the next thing on my list is learning to ride a bike. womanandhome.com 53

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Lifeguard tips

straight from the horse’s mouth.

Signage: Read & Remember At home or abroad, it’s there for a reason. It’s there to make sure you have the best day out by keeping you safe in what are probably, unfamiliar surroundings.

Flags: Learn before you leave Flags tell you what the conditions are like and where is safe to swim. They can help you understand the conditions if a lifeguard isn’t there.

(See page 24 for more)

Lifeguards: love ‘em & leave ‘em Lifeguards are on hand to help you enjoy your day and to step in, in an emergency. Don’t distract them if you think they look bored, their eyes are on the prize water safety! If you can’t see them, they can’t see you either so stay in sight.

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Leave it to the Professionals If you see someone in trouble, call the lifeguard on duty or the emergency services. Don’t try and rescue them yourself, you might need rescuing too!

Sip, slap & wrap: water, suncream, towel Sipping water keeps you hydrated. Slapping on suncream protects your skin. Wrapping up warm after swimming, stops you getting too cold.

Candice’s fave tip

Pool blues Pool water appears to us as blue. Blue shorts and swimsuits blend into blue water, be bright and be seen!

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“Being a lifeguard has opened my eyes to a part of me I didn’t know I had.”

Candice Arnold is a fully-qualified lifeguard and yes, we confess - she’s on our side and is a big supporter of our water safety work, above and beyond RLSS UK qualifying and training lifesavers across the UK and Ireland.

Here, all in one place, Candice has gathered her top tips for enjoying water safely, straight from the horse’s mouth!

Beer goggles Drinking alcohol impairs your judgement and ability to react quickly. Enjoy the water instead.

Rip currents Rip currents can be hard to see and will drag you out to sea faster than an Olympic swimmer. If you get stuck in one, swim parallel to the shore and when you’re free from it, try and stand up before trying to swim back in. If you get tired, float on your back and remain calm. Raise one hand and shout for help.

Slippy sides The sides of the pool are wet and slippy. We ask you to walk because if you slip, there’s no guarantee you’ll fall in the water, and take it from one who knows, the poolside hurts if you fall.

Fun with floats Inflatables are great fun for all ages but they aren’t life preservers and they’re easily carried out to sea on a windy day. Stake them in the sand or better yet, keep them for the pool.

Emergency: Who you gonna call?

At home or abroad, do you know who to call in an emergency?

UK inland: 999 and ask for the fire service UK coast: 999 and ask for the coastguard Abroad (inc. RoI): call 112

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Wet, wild & fantastic fit fun... yes, it’s swimming!

We talk a lot about being able to swim as a lifesaving skill and the first defence against drowning and of course, it is, but let’s not forget, swimming and water-based activities like rock-pooling and paddle-boarding are fun, exciting adventures too!

We think this video, courtesy of Elizabeth Swims, does an amazing job of showing just how much fun swimming can be! https://vimeo.com/560144265

Over the course of the last year, there’s been plenty discussed on the benefits to mental and physical health of being outside but for those people who were unable to access the great outdoors, coupled with pools being closed for such a long time, it must’ve felt like a bitter pill.

With no impact on joints, the supportive buoyancy of water and some of the most calorie-burning exercise you can do, swimming is often by-passed in favour of more facility-free exercises like walking and running.

With pools and open water venues now widely available, isn’t it about time we reminded ourselves just how good swimming can be?

Little wonder then, that pools re-opening has been warmly welcomed, across the UK and Ireland.

Did you know..?

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A holiday resort in Malaysia has over 643 pools. That’s a different pool every day for nearly two years!

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Pictures of people swimming breaststroke have been found in Egypt, dating back to 2,500BC

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Swimming is the only sport that’s equally tough on your upper and lower body, but still gentle on your joints.

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Pool partners. With anti-chlorine soaps and shampoos, and products like Soul Cap that cater for long and voluminous hair, you’re all set to get wet.

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Crawl and butterfly strokes push swimming into the top five exercises to burn the most calories.

Swimming+. Surfing, scuba diving, triathlon and sailing, are all sports that will only let you have a go if you can swim.

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Innovation aids access: increasing numbers of pools offer sessions that cater to specific groups like women-only sessions, rehabilitation work and adult lessons.

Pool pals. Cafes, aqua fit classes and spa areas are all big social hubs associated with many pool venues.

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Kickstarts for kids, grand for grown-ups & supporting seniors: swimming keeps hearts and lungs healthy, improves stamina and helps improve strength, flexibility, balance and posture.

Learning to swim today, opens the door to fun and adventure tomorrow.

You’re never too old or too young to learn and who knows, one day it might save your life too.

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Please donate.

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Your generosity will help future generations enjoy water safely

This year, more than ever before, RLSS UK needs your help to swell the ranks of people dedicated to keeping our waterways fun, friendly and secure places to be for everyone. RLSS UK believes that through free, accessible education and training, everyone can enjoy water safely.

Like all charities over the last 18 months or so, the Royal Life Saving Society UK has faced financial struggles born out of the lack of opportunity to fundraise, so often under-taken by our passionate and dedicated army of volunteers, members, customers and staff.

Our campaigning, awareness raising, community collections and donated course fees, are all some examples of our fundraising activities where donations are actively encouraged but in truth, our donation platforms are open for business 24-hours-a-day and any donation, big or small, at any time, early or late – helps us enhance communities and save lives.

A donation to suit you

There are many ways you can donate to help us continue our work so more people can enjoy water safely.

Online

Facebook

By cheque

Make a one-off donation or set up a regular donation via www.rlss.org.uk/donate

Via our page www.facebook.com/RLSSUK or create a fundraising event.

Royal Life Saving Society UK, Red Hill House, 227 London Road, Worcester, WR5 2JG

AmazonSmile

www.justgiving.com/rlssuk/donate

A gift in your will

BACS

Email: legacy@rlss.org.uk and we will guide you through the process.

Opt for ‘The Royal Life Saving Society U.K.’ and 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products will come to us.

JustGiving

RLSS UK Sort code: 180002 RLSS UK Account number: 03627012

Whether it’s a one-off donation, setting up a regular payment or supporting one of our named fundraisers, simply click here: www.rlss.org.uk/appeal/support-our-drowning-prevention-efforts

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Put simply, fundraising is the Fuel that makes our work burn bright.

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Fuel to train community lifesavers Fuel

to educate people on water safety Fuel

to innovate & advocate Fuel

to save lives

Amazon Prime It’s official: Amazon Prime Day deals will kick off Monday June 21 and run through June 22 which means we’ve got another 48 hours of excellent offers to look forward to this year.

Fancy helping RLSS UK to educate more people about how to enjoy water safely, at no cost to you?

When shopping on Amazon, please support us by opting for The Royal Life Saving Society - UK via Amazon Smile. You shop. Amazon Gives.

So, how do I opt in for Amazon Smile? Click here for all the details: www.rlss.org.uk/how-to-donate

Virtual fundraising – that’s a quacking idea!

Don’t duck out – here’s how you can make a big splash with our next fundraising initiative without even leaving the house!

We’ve all heard of a balloon release for a charitable cause, some of you may even be familiar with a balloon race or a rubber duck race but have you ever done it virtually?

Our first RLSS UK Virtual Duck Race will start on the 26 June and close on 3 July 2021. Ducks cost just £3 each and the winning duck wins a dryrobe worth £150.

Now you know, where do you go to sign up?

Here’s how it works…

Just like in the real world, once you’ve picked your duck you can release it onto the water and, subject to tides and currents, reeds, water traffic and high winds, your little duck is free to bob and weave, following the river wherever it goes. You can name and design your own duck, then track its progress in real time!

Furthest travelled duck at the close of the race wins a prize and all money raised for buying the ducks, goes towards our water safety work.

Cluck, sorry, Click here to enter and for the terms and conditions: www.rlss.org.uk/appeal/support-ourdrowning-prevention-efforts

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At the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), we work tirelessly to educate people how to enjoy water safely - keeping their families and friends safe, and knowing what to do in an emergency. We also offer valuable support and counselling services to friends and families that have been affected by drowning incidents.

The old saying goes that ‘prevention is better than cure’ and our campaign pages certainly back that up.

Click on each section here and learn how to keep your family safe this summer. https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/ Category/water-safety-information

https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/ family-water-safety

Water safety in winter Floods, ice, slippy riverbanks and poorly lit paths, our winter water safety advice will help steer you safely through the dark winter months.

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How to rescue someone from drowning Six simple solutions, to do your best to help someone struggling in the water. https://www.rlss.org.uk/how-to-rescuesomeone-from-drowning

Open water safety tips If you’re looking to up the ante and want to join the millions of people who’ve taken up open water swimming recently, you can get more advice from us and our partners, dryrobe, on page 42.

Advice during recreational activity Over half the people that drown in the UK, never expected to end up in the water. Whether you SUP, you’re a runner, an angler or out for your usual dog walk, a quick read of our tips will head accidents off at the pass. https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/activities

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Accessibility and inclusivity make safer spaces for all When you know that over 46 per cent of all accidental drownings were people who never intended to get into the water, keeping away from the water because you can’t or don’t like to swim, simply isn’t enough.

The barriers to inclusion are often complex and entrenched but equally, all-too-often are born out of bad experiences at a young age.

Women-only sessions, aquafit classes, rehabilitation work and adult-only swimming lessons, are some of the activities happening in pools all across the UK and Ireland. And learning to swim isn’t just about stopping you from drowning, being able to swim opens the door to another world of water-based adventures.

When people know how to enjoy water safely, incidents and accidents that see people unintentionally in the water, are reduced. Losses of life to drowning, become a thing of the past.

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Did you know that 95% of black adults and 80% of black children do not swim?

Marketing Planning Executive Donna Akodu recognised the value of water safety and swimming, as skills for life. She shares her story of how she conquered her fear of swimming:

“ I was one of those statistics.

I didn’t have a positive experience of swimming lessons when I was younger and that turned me away from the water.

It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I decided to change my narrative and conquer my fear of swimming.

When you know that over 46 per cent of all accidental drownings were people that never intended to be in the water, keeping away from the water because you can’t or don’t like to swim, simply isn’t enough.

I decided to sign up for local swimming lessons and I loved it - it really built my confidence in the water.

Swimming is now a big part of my life and is fun. Everyone should have the skills to be safe in the water but also to enjoy all of the benefits that comes with accessing water-based activities. We need to normalise swimming with people of colour, and then it will naturally follow through to our children and beyond.

Learning vital water safety and swimming skills are skills for life and I encourage anybody, no matter your background, to understand water safety and change your own swimming narrative.”

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“ It means a lot to me to renew.

Two years ago I became the first ever wheelchair user to qualify as both a lifeguard and a swim teacher. There was a lot of positive PR at the time but I haven’t really talked much about the negative stuff that came with it too.

It massively dented my confidence and it’s one of the reasons that I then went on to qualify as an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor.

In the two years since I became that first person in a wheelchair to have the NPLQ, I have gone on to deliver three full NPLQ courses and assessed people multiple times. I have also become an expert in risk assessments!!

Facing discrimination of that kind had a big impact on me.

But it was also an opportunity for me to show how determined and resilient I can be. I hope in time, that more wheelchair users go on to qualify as a lifeguard.

Helen Bull: wheelchair use no barrier to working as a lifeguard and swim teacher

Massive thanks to my local Everyone Active site for facilitating my renewal and always believing in me.”

Helen Bull is National Commercial Aquatics Manager for Serco Leisure.

Having already become the UK’s first wheelchair user to qualify and then work as a lifeguard, April 2021 saw Helen successfully renew her National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) with Everyone Active. For people unfamiliar with Helen’s achievements, whilst remarkable enough by themselves, are all the more so when you know that Helen is largely confined to a wheelchair. Helen says:

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Sparkhill Pool and Fitness centre: inspiring the culturally diverse community to get in the swim!

Managed and operated by Places Leisure on behalf of Birmingham City Council, Sparkhill Pool and Fitness Centre sits at the heart of one of Birmingham’s most culturally diverse, yet economically deprived areas.

Opened only four years ago, the centre has created a venue that expressly caters for the needs of a community where only 61.9 per cent of people speak English, and the religious make-up includes those who identify as Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jewish and even…heavy metal!

General Manager for the centre, Raj Kahlwan tells us:

“ By ensuring that we listened to and acted on the needs of our community, we’ve engaged and retained a regular uptake of all our services.

It was a huge honour and a testament to the hard work of all the team, that we were awarded an accreditation of ‘excellent’ in the 2019 Quest quality assurance awards too.

With the majority of our customers following the Muslim religion, there was a need to recognise the demand for women-only sessions both in the pool and on our class timetable. We currently offer the most female-only swim sessions in the country, with lessons and pool classes hosted by female teachers, and protected by a female-only team of lifeguards.

We simply wouldn’t be in this impressive position without the help of RLSS UK. They worked with us to create robust yet accommodating policies that allow us to be uniquely sensitive to the needs of Muslim swimmers. For example, we now have a policy that allows both lifeguard uniform modifications for reasons of modesty, as well as specific considerations for modesty swimwear, (eg full body cover, close-fitting Lycra).

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And we were also guided by RLSS UK in the implementation of support measures for both customers and team members observing Ramadan.

But it isn’t all about the ladies - demand showed very quickly, that men-only pool sessions were required and subsequently, introduced to our timetable. We’ve also taken careful and deliberate steps to ensure all our team and our wider customer base have an appreciation of why we operate the way we do.

The results have been phenomenal really: we’re incredibly lucky that, by focussing our recruitment locally, many of our staff are multi-lingual, this helps guarantee a warm, friendly welcome for all our customers, and also makes us one of the ‘go-to’ pools in the area for school swimming, we have partnerships with local 25 schools!

The success of the centre has been such that we were featured in the BBC ‘Get Inspired’ series.

I am incredibly proud of what the team has achieved and the work we continue to do, to promote the value of swimming and overall health and wellbeing, throughout our local community.”

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GET TO KNOW YOUR

BEACHFLAGS FLAGS BEACH

BEACH FLAGS Red and Yellow Red and Yellow Lifeguards on duty Lifeguards on duty Between flags is the safest place to swim Between the the flags is the safest place to swim

Red Red Dangerous area Dangerous area Lifeguards watching Lifeguards are are notnot watching thisthis areaarea swim Do Do notnot swim herehere

Black and White Black and White Water Sports area Water Sports area swim Do Do notnot swim herehere

Orange Windsock Orange Windsock Shows the direction Shows the direction and strength the wind and strength ofof the wind Beware of winds blowing to sea Beware of winds blowing outout to sea

Beach Flags Beach Beach Flags Flags Beach Flags

Enjoy Water Safely

Learn basic lifesaving and CPR skills.

Visit www.rlss.org.uk

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Those who are left behind Royal Life Saving Society UK’s core purpose is to enhance communities across the UK and Ireland; through free, accessible water safety education and training, we strive to make sure everyone can enjoy being in, on or near water, safely, keeping our waterways fun, friendly and secure places for everyone.

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Vicki Jones:

“ My main message to all students and indeed, anyone looking to head out for a night on the town, is Be A Mate: look out for each other, don’t leave anyone alone and make sure you all get home.

Tom was a good swimmer, we never thought to tell him about water safety.”

Tom Jones’ body was found in the River Severn in September 2018. He was 18-years-old and it was his first week away from home, as a new student at Worcester University.

Vicki has worked with RLSS UK on our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, focussing her energies on educating students more widely on the heady mix of new-found independence as they embark on uni life, coupled with the unfamiliar surroundings of accommodation, campus and town. “ I encourage all students to stop and think, be mindful of their new surroundings,” she says.

Tom was a good swimmer but I now understand how being unfamiliar with his surroundings, the temperature of the water and the current meant he didn’t stand a chance.”

The families and friends who’ve put voice to their feelings of loss in these videos, are united by one aim: to encourage all parents to teach their children how to stay safe and enjoy water safely. By downloading our FREE water safety advice, resources and online lessons, you can help us prevent other families having a tragic story to tell.

Ian & Vicki Jones pictured at the installation of emergency rescue equipment, River Severn

Watch the #BeAMate campaign video, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1OgicnXr1U

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Nick Pope:

“ I don’t want what happened to Charlie and to our family to happen to any other family.

If you are out on a night out, take care, stick together and look after each other.”

Charlie was 19-years-old and a student at Manchester University. His body was found in a canal in the city centre, after a night out with friends.

In this powerful video, Charlie’s father Nick, and some of Charlie’s friends speak candidly about the loss of Charlie.

Fiona Gosling:

“ Had I have known about water safety, I could have taught Cameron myself and maybe…he wouldn’t have done what he’d done. Don’t just jump into the water. If you are gonna go in, start with your feet and acclimatise your body. Get your body used to the water because you just never know.”

Cameron Gosling was just 14-years-old when he lost his life in the River Wear.

Cameron and his friends had been paddling and swimming, cooling off on a warm day, when some of the group got into difficulties. The inquest into Cameron’s death ruled the cause of his death was immersion, or cold water shock. Cameron’s mum Fiona and some of the friends who were with him that day, have worked with the Safe Durham Partnership on the video ‘Dying To Be Cool’. The video is widely used across the region to help educate young people, and keep them safe around water.

Katy Baguley:

“ Like so many people, we didn’t know enough about the risks of swimming in open water; we didn’t know what the beach flags meant, or that there might not be lifeguards, or about currents hiding under the surface.”

Katy lost her husband Chris and friend Jack, in the sea at Hastings on 8 October 2020.

As newcomers to open water swimming, Katy, her husband Chris, her brother Alex and mutual friend Jack, all wisely took their time getting used to the water but a strong under-current saw all four of them suddenly struggling.

Sadly, only Katy and Alex survived that terrible day, all four of them were treated at the scene by the emergency services but Chris and Jack died later in hospital. “ We thought we knew what to expect that day, we’d had conversations about safety and hadn’t taken any risks,” says Katy.

My husband and my friend were two young, healthy men but that didn’t stop the sea taking them, Alex and I were really lucky to get out too.

I’d encourage everyone to learn how to keep themselves safe before they leave home, so everyone can have a great day out.”

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Teya’s Legacy Teya Davies was 14-years-old when she lost her life, trying to save that of her friend, who’d fallen into water at Clincton Woods nature park, Widnes.

In the wake of the tragic loss, friend Liv Eren and others, created the Teya’s Legacy charitable group, who are “on a mission to increase awareness and understanding around water safety” in the region.

RLSS UK teamed up with Teya’s family and friends to create a new video for Drowning Prevention Week: ‘Teya’s story is not a one off. Young people speak up’.

Now 17-years-old, Liv, joined by Teya’s friends and family have teamed up with RLSS UK to create a powerful video, uniting behind the call for more water education which could’ve prevented their friend from losing her life.

Liv tells us:

“ Swimming and water safety skills are vital for every child. They are skills that give young people, like us, the chance to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water and could one day save a life.

We sadly lost our friend, Teya Davies at the age of 14. When looking back on Teya’s story we are reminded of how preventable her death could have been if only she knew how to swim or to keep herself safe in the water.

For Drowning Prevention Week please download the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s FREE water safety advice, resources and online lessons and enjoy water safely this summer. It doesn’t take long to teach young people like us, basic water safety skills.

These last couple of years in particular, water safety has never been more crucial, with millions of young people missing out on their curriculum-mandated swimming lessons due to COVID-19.

Young people from low income backgrounds will be the hardest hit. We must remove these inequalities and ensure that every child leaves school set up to enjoy water safely for the rest of their lives.

402 accidental deaths per annum are entirely preventable.

We know the positive impact that drowning prevention and swimming lessons have on young people - they are needed now, more than ever.

We want to raise awareness of water fatalities and drowning prevention, and prevent other young people from going through the heartache of losing a friend like we have.

Teya’s story is not a ‘one off’- it’s one of many. Everybody has a responsibility when it comes to water safety. Please make sure you’re doing your part.

Drowning is preventable. Even one drowning is one too many! ”

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Watch! Liv Eren on BBC Breakfast, talking about Teya’s Legacy and how their work resulted in training other pupils who went on to save a woman and her baby from a local canal: https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/ status/1216276125078474752

Three years on and Teya’s Legacy’s work continues.

You can follow and support teya’s Legacy: teyaslegacy TikTok: Facebook: @TEYASLEGACY Twitter:

@TeyasLegacy

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Lifesaving hits the

Princess Charlene of Monaco

Joe Biden

Dave Bautista

HRH The Queen

With Her Majesty The Queen recently discovering she was the first ever person in the Commonwealth to receive a junior lifesaving award we realised there were plenty more celebrity lifesavers in the news, including Princess Charlene of Monaco, POTUS Joe Biden, and actor and bodybuilder Dave Bautista! www.rlsscommonwealth.org/king-edward-vii-cup-presentation/

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headlines This year, we’re delighted that a UK household name Steve Backshall, has added his support to our Drowning Prevention Week campaign…

Courtesy of: British Marine

Do a quick internet search for Steve Backshall and you’ll instantly come face-to-face with images of Steve, always smiling and invariably surrounded by exotic animals. Steve’s passion for discovery and conservation, coupled with his love of a challenge, has seen him tackle hostile environments all over the globe, bringing all the glories of the wild world, right into your living room.

Having nearly drowned in a Himalayan white-water torrent, there can’t be many people better placed than Steve to talk about the importance and value of water safety, except possibly his wife, GB Rowing Team’s double-Olympic champion, Helen Glover MBE. Helen has recently re-joined Team GB as she aims to be the first woman in British rowing history to be selected for an Olympic team, after having children.

If all this action wasn’t enough, Steve and Helen are parents to three young children.

This coming summer, everyone will be looking to staycation in the UK. We’ll be drawn in the greatest numbers in history to our nation’s waterways. This could be fabulous for our country and all of us in so many ways…but is going to cause flashpoints. On the river, wild swimmers, paddleboarders and wildlife will go head-to-head with speeding motorboats.

At the coast, first-time surfers, sailors and sea kayakers will be learning that the sea is the mightiest force on our planet.

The services dedicated to our water safety, like RLSS UK and the RNLI, are going to be the busiest they’ve ever been. You can do your part to support them, by learning how to be a safe and responsible water user yourself. There are things we can all do to help prevent tragedies this year: check the conditions (weather, currents, flow, wind, tides, swell), know your limits, observe speed limits, be visible, wear flotation devices, don’t litter and respect other water users, both human and wild.

This is one we really are all in together.”

Steve says: “ My family live, work, swim and train on the Thames, and we holiday where Helen grew up on the Cornish Coast.

With three kids under three years of age (who we couldn’t teach to swim in the last lockdown year), safety around the water has become an obsession for us.

RLSS UK would like to thank Steve for his contribution to our DPW campaign here, and if you want to find out more about what Steve’s up to, check out: http://www.stevebackshall.com/ or follow him on Twitter @SteveBackshall

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Rookie Lifeguard programme because you’re never too young to save a life!

At the heart of this year’s Drowning Prevention Week campaign, lies a simple goal… we want to give people, young and old, the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.

Suzanne Gabb Suzanne Gabb is an RLSS UK Trustee and is Head of Aquatics for Parkwood Leisure; throughout her career Suzanne has worked in various swimming sectors globally, including Australia and the USA. This knowledge has proved vital in the construction of Parkwood Leisure’s ‘Swim Safer, Smarter and Stronger’ programme which directly focuses on educating children about safety and survival in water.

And RLSS UK’s Rookie Lifeguard starts youngsters on their water safety journey, giving them the skills they need to be confident in, on and around water. With colourful materials and fun, varied activities, the Rookie Lifeguard programme teaches children how to swim and enjoy water safely, whether in shallow or deeper water.

“ I opted to use guidance from RLSS UK alongside the International Life Saving Federation and the 14 outcomes from the World Health Organization to create ‘Swim Safer, Smarter and Stronger’.

That’s peace of mind for mums, dads and carers of young children, across the UK, Ireland and beyond!

Swim Safer focuses on the theory elements of water safety, ensuring children understand the risks and hazards of water and how to stay safe within them from their very first lesson.

Programme lessons factor in valuable survival, rescue and sports skills, all delivered in an exciting and engaging way that will get youngsters involved, and keep them coming back for more.

Swim Smarter gives children skills to identify themselves in trouble and self-rescue as well as how to identify others at risk and safely assist them. Finally, Swim Stronger focuses on their swimming endurance, and helps them to understand their limitations to judge better how far is too far.

For many youngster signing up to be a Rookie Lifeguards, it’s their first opportunity to explore water safety, gradually gaining independence and confidence while learning vital life skills, at a pace that suits them.

Making youngsters aware of the water safety elements of swimming has helped develop an awareness of safety amongst our young swimmers. By the time they finish our stage seven programme, they will have already completed 50 per cent of the skills in RLSS UK’s Rookie Lifeguard Bronze Award, this has led to an increase in demand for Rookie Lifeguard classes.

But don’t just take our word for it… see for yourself! www.youtube.com/ watch?v=KZNDBRDkXhk

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Suzanne tells us:

Our parents’ testimonials speak to the positive impact the sessions have had on their children, but more than anything, you’re equipping your children to enjoy water safely so they can look forward to a lifetime of fun in the water.”

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From Rookie to Pro: four Rookie Lifeguards qualify as professional lifeguards

Casper Argent-Cole Setting his sights on becoming a professional lifeguard, Casper Argent saw the Rookie Lifeguard programme as a way to achieve his goal, he tells us:

“ I have swum ever since I was young and have enjoyed it so much, it’s now part of my usual routine. I believe everyone should learn to swim as it puts you less at risk of drowning.

Training to be a Rookie Lifeguard came with the chance to swim competitively, so it felt like a natural progression from the usual swim sessions. The programme has built my confidence in the water, it is great for cardiovascular fitness and stamina, and I’ve made great friends with the other students.

Through Rookie Lifeguard, I have learnt important life skills like CPR and how best to help someone who is drowning. I really hope to get a job as a lifeguard in the future because I want to be able to save people.”

Parkwood Leisure’s Hutton Moor Leisure Centre in Weston-super-Mare has reaped the rewards from its dedication to a career pathway, that started with the Rookie Lifeguard programme, through to the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification; they’ve recently employed four newly-qualified lifeguards who, having completed the Rookie Lifeguard Award programme with them, were selected to be trained as lifeguards for the centre as well.

All four passed and moved straight into employment. Congratulations to all involved!

Did you know..?

CBeebies favourite Grace Webb, started her career as a lifeguard. Known for her love of motorsport and loved for introducing little ones to some of the biggest, fastest and most amazing machines in the world, it was Grace’s desire to protect and support her community that lead her lifeguarding.

Are you ready for Rookie?

Ask at your local leisure centre or click on our Course Finder to find a Rookie Lifeguard course near you!

direct.rlss.org.uk/course-finder/

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Andy Marsh Chief Constable

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Laura Winter - Sports Broadcaster, Commentator and Journalist

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Trish Greenhalgh - Professor of Primary Health Care & GP

Grace Webb is the Presenter of the CBeebies series Grace’s Amazing Machines - a programme designed to introduce pre-school children to the biggest; fastest; and most amazing machines in the world. She has also made appearances as an educator on the highly anticipated ‘BBC Bitesize Daily’ but, she started her career as a lifeguard.

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Luisa Petta Intensive Care Nurse

When Grace was filming for Motors TV, she also studied for a degree in Primary Education. Her passion for inspiring and motivating young minds led Grace to be a classroom teacher for four and a half years before taking a promotion to Assistant Headteacher for a further year and a half.

From there Grace applied the skills she had developed throughout her working life.

Grace is known for her love of sport and action, which is little surprise when she comes from a family of motorsports enthusiasts and is the granddaughter of Donnington Park’s Race Circuit founder Tom Wheatcroft.

In 2011, she qualified as a lifeguard at her local swimming pool where she started her career. As a lifeguard, she particularly enjoyed the training aspect of the role and knowing that the work she was doing was protecting and supporting her community. However, it was Grace’s love of motorsport that led to her first television appearance as an interviewer on ‘Motors TV’ for popular motorcycle championship ‘Thundersport GB’.

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LIFESAVERS

RLSS UK Join our community, fuel our work With a Lifesaver annual membership, your amazing support will help us keep the UK and Ireland free from drowning, and equip everyone with the skills to enjoy the water, safely For £24 per year, our membership is perfectly designed to suit people who aren’t practically engaged in our activities but who care about saving lives, and who avidly enjoy the water.

Main benefits include: Welcome package (for new members) Regular updates on how your membership fee, helps save lives Access to Howdens Benefits Platform with offers on everything from your weekly shop, clothes and days out, through to adventure holidays Want to know more! https://www.rlss.org.uk/lifesaver-membership

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Publication: Northwich Gua rdian Date: 28/01/2021 Page: 22 Display Rate (£/cm²): 2.61

DROWNING PREVENTION WEEK EDITION ____________ ____ ____________

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Celebrating some of our

#EverydayHeroes Here at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, we know that people like first-aiders and lifeguards are fully-trained, not just with the skills to try and save a life in an emergency situation but also, they have the confidence to back up using those skills when every second counts.

We call the people who do this our everyday heroes.

Circulation: 9581 Readership: 27734

Size (cm²): 311 LIFESAVERS AVE: 811.71

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Young hero r e

Nine-year-old Fran k rescued a youn g girl from a swimming poo l in October

“Frank was when he saved only nine years old that’s somethingthis little girl’s life, him and with that will stay with their lives,” her, for the rest of

By Scott Murp expla hy RLSS UK’s Directorins Lee Heard, scott.murphy@new of Charity. squest.co.uk “For such a the incident, young person to spot then have the dence and cour confiAN Antrobus and immediat age to help the girl scho ely call for olboy who serve saved the life help, des huge prais of a e. little girl on holiday has “It was an hono been his heroic effor recognised for meet Frank whenur and a delight to we did our video call presentati The Guardian ts. on, he’s a credit to his family and his November how reported back in nine-year-old Sarah has community.”

Emsley had Frank been tificate is now confirmed the cerhis family durin on holiday with g the October Frank’s bedr hanging proudly on term, when halfoom and it acts he minder to a as a reold girl who rescued a four-yearfamily holid who was lying ay they will never forget. down in the face swimming pool.

She said: “We Frank quick were contacted the RLSS as and pulled thely sprang into action by they’d heard heroic actions of Frank’s of the pool at girl out of the water on Hits radio “They conta . where she was the hotel in Tenerife, cted me via a sentative there and paramedi treated by lifeguards who had my reprecs.

“We were At the time, thrilled they details. to award Fran wanted hailed her son Frank’s mum Sarah k with a lifesaving award. and the youn as ‘a humble hero’ g lifesaver’s “Unfortunately were also actions praised by virus pandemic , due to the Coronahis school teacher. this had to be remotely via done However, his zoom.

“Frank was received the efforts have also now attention of his award andso pleased to receive Life Saving the Royal it really made Socie feel special him who have awar ty UK (RLSS UK) that he had ded him with knowledged Young Perso by such a greatbeen actheir n’s Certificate “He char had ity. mendation. a chat on the of Comzoom meeting with the RLSS UK’s ‘Youn and he decid RLSS representative g Person’s Certi icate of Com ed he would fmendation’ on like one to go of their cour is awarded to those peop ses when he le older.” is plify the quickunder 18, who exem-thinking The charity age it takes has a free to take actio and courwater safety n, and save a life. toolkit, whic digital found at rlss.o h can be ry/lifesaver-lif rg.uk/Pages/Categoechanger Frank Emsley

Northwich G

37

____________

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cognised

with his RLSS

UK certificate.

uardian

They aren’t paid to step in, they might just be doing the shopping or heading to the pub, but they step in and try and make a difference, nonetheless.

Sometimes, these everyday heroes aren’t even formally trained at all. These are people who may have had some training in the past, or maybe just acted on instinct that something wasn’t right, and acted in a way that helped save a life.

Here, we hear from two people, exactly like that…

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Frank Emsley:

Tenerife, October 2020 RLSS UK awarded Frank our ‘Young Person’s Certificate of Commendation’ after he was quickest to react, when he spotted a young girl in trouble in the hotel pool, on a last-minute family holiday in October half-term.

In quickly recognising something wasn’t quite right and raising the alarm, Frank, who was only nine-years-old at the time, saved the girl’s life.

Proud mum, Sarah, has confirmed the certificate will form part of a scrapbook she’s compiling for Frank, to commemorate the richly-deserved praise he has received, for his actions.

Frank’s talks about his experience in this video and gives us his top water safety tip!

Read more about Frank’s heroics: www.rlss.org.uk/frank-emsley

Gradley Dawson: Reading, March 2021 Gradley was out walking his dog in March this year, when he heard a splash and realised a young woman was in trouble in the water. Gradley was awarded the RLSS UK ‘Certificate of Commendation’ and credits his former RLSS UK training, with having the knowledge and confidence that saved the girls life.

Gradley talks about his experience in this video Read more about Gradley’s heroics: www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/ thames-reading-woman-rescue-hero-20188161

Everyday heroes leap into action all the time.

Read more about them here www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/everydayheroes

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Water Babies:

water confidence builds life confidence March 2020 saw Water Babies join RLSS UK as a strategic partner.

Our partnerships reflect the wider acceptance that, in order to deliver our core purpose of preventing drowning and empowering everyone to enjoy water safely, we need to collaborate and innovate with others to pool skills, passion, innovation and insight.

And just like RLSS UK, Water Babies believes you’re never too young to learn a skill for life.

Water Babies’ Aquatics Director Hannah Smith, has compiled some top tips for your little one’s water safety this summer, from bath to beach!

1 Start swimming lessons as early as possible

2 Make bath-time fun

3 Be aware of your surroundings at the poolside

It’s really important not to pass on your own fears of the water. At Water Babies we see babies swimming from birth and have had pupils as young as a day old in our classes.

Start introducing water to your baby in a fun environment by making bath time enjoyable with songs and toys.

This positive association will then be transferred to the swimming pool and bigger water-based environments.

But it’s not just about having fun. For instance, did you know, children who take part in baby swimming reach developmental milestones such as counting to 10 much earlier than expected?

4 Kit your baby out in all the gear

5 Always keep an eye on your children

6 Floatation devices are not life preservers

There are lots of great things you can kit your baby out in – a floppy sun hat if you’re outside, a happy nappy wetsuit if you’re worried they might get a little chilly and for older toddlers, a float jacket can give them a little bit of independence (but make sure you don’t leave them unsupervised).

Always keep a watchful eye on your children, even if there is a lifeguard on duty. Lifeguards are a great additional resource but do not solely rely on this.

Designate an adult who can put their phone away whilst they keep an eye on the children who are both in, and around the pool area, and always keep non-swimmers within arm’s length.

Floatation devices can be a fun experience for babies, children and grown-ups alike, but they are not life preservers. Even if your little one has floats, you shouldn’t take your eyes off them; they can float away with currents and tides, or even tip over with your little one inside.

Fear of the water is a learnt behaviour, so it is important to get your little ones accustomed to the water at a young age, and show them how to respond to this environment in a safe way.

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Be aware of the type of pool that your little one is swimming in and check the temperature. This should be a minimum 30 degrees and if your baby is under 12 weeks or 12 pounds, this needs to be 32 degrees or above.

Take in the wider surroundings also and check if there is a lifeguard on duty, whether there are any slippery surfaces, where the deep end of the pool is and if there are any cracked tiles; as these are all factors to consider when ensuring water safety.

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7 Paddling pool & beach safety

8 Learn Basic Life Support (BLS)

Paddling pools are great fun in the garden on a hot summer’s day, but always keep water safety a priority, even if your children are in a paddling pool with just a few inches of water.

Once you’re finished, empty out the water and tip the paddling pool over. And at the beach, always check whether there are trained lifeguards on duty, learn what the flags mean and obey them! Look out for signage about the site, and keep in mind possible rip currents and tides.

When it comes to emergency and survival, every second counts. At Water Babies, all our teachers are qualified lifesavers and are trained to carry out infant resuscitation (a qualification which they renew every two years). All teachers also carry: ∞ First aid kits ∞ First aid books ∞ Mobile phones ∞ Emergency action plans, customised for each pool ∞ Local emergency numbers If you are abroad, make sure you know the emergency number and it is always advisable to have a first aid kit with you.

Water Babies Learn Water Babies believes that everyone should have the chance to build water confidence in their little ones. Whether you’re learning in the sink, bath or swimming pool. Water Babies Learn is a series of online videos which contain a Water Babies teacher passing on their knowledge and expertise through handy practical videos, which show you key skills you can do with your little one, wherever you are.

You only have to spend a few minutes of your time watching any of the short, informative videos on the Water Babies website, to get a real feel for the comprehensive structure that goes into creating light-hearted learning and memorable water safety sessions, for the very youngest swimmers!

See for yourself! www.waterbabies.co.uk/lessons/learn

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Time to get WIN: up to four aqua wet & wild park tickets for your this summer! family, worth over £75 With UK ‘holi-stays’ set to be big business this year, a visit to an aqua park should be on the top of your list for a wet and wild, fun family day out.

And to make it easy for you we have one ticket allowing entry for a family of four, to an RLSS UK accredited aqua park of your choosing, to give a way – worth over £75!

Whether you want to visit the aqua park on your doorstep, or one that is closest to your holiday destination, you are only three steps away from your chance of winning that family ticket!

All you have to do is: 1. download either our Beach Flags or Water Safety Code poster 2. send us a photo of you with it 3. Send your name, preferred park and the photo to; marketing@rlss.org.uk Find one near you: www.rlss.org.uk/listing/category/aqua-parks In 2019, RLSS UK joined forces with aqua parks across the UK and Ireland, to form the very first accreditation scheme. The scheme is designed to evolve and support aqua parks in offering a recognised and consistent safety standard, making RLSS UK Industry Approved Aqua Parks, some of the safest in the world.

This year, our accredited aqua parks have beavered away to make their venues Covid-19 safe, and are ready and willing to welcome thrill-seekers back to their sensationally-soaking, high-energy, heart-racing aqua park adventures!

For competition terms and conditionss head to: https://www.rlss.org.uk/dpw

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Open water tips before swimming your dips Open water, cold water, wild water whatever you call it when you swim outdoors, the last year has seen a huge surge in people participating in the sport, with Outdoor Swimmer magazine reporting a 45 per cent increase in how much time swimmers swam outside, in 2020 alone.

Whether it’s people dipping their toe in to see if they like it, regular swimmers vouching for the positive impact on their physical and mental wellbeing, or seasoned triathletes returning to training, everyone can take advantage of RLSS UK’s mission:

To be the leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding in the UK and Ireland; sharing our expertise and knowledge with as many people as possible, giving everyone the potential to save lives and safely enyoy water.

Sponge to Plunge – getting set to get wet A Dutch study in 2016 showed that people finishing a daily shower with a 30-second blast of cold water reduced their sick days at work by 29 per cent.

Acclimatising to cold water is an important step in enjoying a safe swim.

In response to the rise in open water swimming, RLSS UK teamed up with supporter, sport activity expert and trainer to the stars, Professor Greg Whyte OBE to create ‘Sponge to Plunge’, an easy and gradual two-week plan to get you used to immersion in cold water, before you even leave the house! www.rlss.org.uk/sponge-to-plunge

Water safety tips All your water safety tips and advice can be found in one handy place: https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/ Category/water-safety-information

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Read more about how to get started, here: https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/open-water-safety-tips

To enter and find out more, click here: www.rlss.org.uk/Event/openwater-festival-4-sept-2021

The Open Water Festival - Ready to give it a try?

Why not sign up for RLSS UK’s Open Water Festival.

We‘re delighted to announce that the RLSS UK Open Water Festival will be taking place this year. Join us at The Lenches Lake, Evesham, Worcestershire, on Saturday 4 September 2021 at this stunning 40 acre Worcestershire site – the perfect place to get away from it all.

Our open water event offers a great safe day out for all the family, swimmers and spectators alike, with a range of swimming distances and attractions to keep the spectators entertained between races.

an essential bit of kit Spotted on celebs like GOT actor Kit Harrington, pop star Rita Ora and Poldark’s Aiden Turner, a dryrobe has been expressly designed to let you get changed anywhere, protect you from the elements, and keep you warm and dry, in any climate.

We are proud that our Open Water Festival will cater for a wonderful mix of ages so, whether you are 10 or 110, a beginner or an experienced international, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome at the RLSS UK Open Water Festival.

The event will consist of four races and prizes will be awarded to first place winners!

After the event, hot food and beverages will be available (dependent on COVID-19 restrictions.)

Why not make a weekend of it? Camping facilities are available. Please contact Lenches Lake direct www.lencheslakes.co.uk.

“Always go swimming with friends.”

Keri-anne Payne, Olympic silver medallist and double world champion

Not your average fit, the new dryrobe Advance is large and loose enough to pull your arms inside and get changed.

Want to get your hands on one?

Find out how on page 46.

Follow @dryrobe for all their latest news and kit innovations.

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Rebecca Horsbrugh: on the importance Rebecca is a freelance journalist who has a passion for swimming and drowning prevention. Her work can be found most often on Channel 4 News, but Rebecca often contributes to publications such as Which? and Outdoor Swimmer too.

In her own words, Rebecca recalls how she’s become more involved in drowning prevention work over the years:

“

I cannot remember not being able to swim. I was lucky. Both my parents knew how to, and they also made sure that my brother and I gained water

My love of swimming also led me to Bangladesh, a beautiful and astonishing country that I doubt I would have visited if I had not become interested in drowning prevention.

confidence from as young an age as possible. I was also fortunate too that when I was at primary school, every child was given free lessons.

I read an article one day stating that 50 children drowned every single day there. I was shocked. To me, swimming is an essential life skill everyone should learn - and for that number of children to die every single day just seemed tragic.

Once a week we would all load onto a coach outside the school gates and head over to the local baths. Back then, it was all paid for by the local council so it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor - everyone got a chance to swim.

I was never a great swimmer though - it wasn’t until I was around 40-years-old that I began to discover a real love for the water, and swimming became the rock in my life, so to speak.

Over the past ten years or so, when life has been tough, being able to get away to the lido, the sea or my local reservoir, has been the medicine I have needed to frankly, keep me sane! The benefits of swimming for mental and physical health, are well-documented and I can attest to them all.

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I began reading up more and discovered the international work of the RNLI in Bangladesh, and a number of other countries. I was inspired to visit Bangladesh and while I was there, I helped out with a swim scheme at a British-run charity called Sreepur Village, a refuge for women and their children who need some help to get back on their feet again.

My interest in Bangladesh and drowning prevention continues, and my desire to help in some way has somehow given me confidence in my swimming ability. So much so, I decided to do a 16 kilometre sea swim in southern Bangladesh, to raise money for the swim schemes in Bangladesh and to raise awareness of drowning prevention. I had never swum such a distance before, but in 2018 I achieved it! I became the first

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of swimming and drowning prevention

British person to swim the Bangla Channel from Teknaf on the mainland, to St. Martin’s Island.

In 2019, I spent a couple of weeks in Zanzibar helping out with swim teaching but my work encouraging people to swim, is not just abroad.

In my spare time, I have trained as a swim teacher and helped out with swim teaching schemes in London, for adults who have never had the chance to learn. One of the best things for me is, when you start a lesson with someone who is pretty nervous but by the end, they have a massive grin on their face and don’t want to leave the water. I feel at that point, yup, this person has got it!

Swimming and water awareness are such important skills, wherever you live. We never know when we might be in danger near water. To me, it is just as important to know basic rescue skills and have a knowledge of things such as tides and temperature, as it is to be able to actually swim.

Swimming has so many benefits and it can be a great thing to get involved with for the social aspect too, I have made some great friends on my swimming travels.

Getting young kids used to the water and to learning to respect the water as early as possible, can only be a good thing. In an ideal world, every child would leave school being able to swim but sadly, we know this is not the case.

This makes the work of organisations like RLSS UK and the RNLI, all the more valuable. For example, through RLSS UK’s free ‘Lifesaver Lifechanger’ toolkit, you and your family can learn how to enjoy being in, on or by the water, before you even leave the house!

Once you’re there and you’re all set up, why not paddle and splash around in the shallows – having fun together and building up your confidence, at the same time? If you know how to enjoy water safely, your children will learn from you.

Teach children from an early age that swimming and water safety is fun, and they’ll have an essential skill for life.

”

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Follow us @RLSSUK on social media, then tag us in when you share our campaign messages using #drowningpreventionweek and #EnjoyWaterSafely

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Find all competition terms and conditions on our website: www.rlss.org.uk/dpw

RLSS UK SPRING / SUMMER 2021

https://www.rlss.org.uk/dpw

RLSS UK, Red Hill House, 227 London Road, Worcester WR5 2JG www.rlss.org.uk | info@rlss.org.uk | 0300 323 0096

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