YMCA to focus on drowning prevention for youngsters and parents

Throughout Drowning Prevention Week, which runs from June 18 to 26, YMCA Fylde Coast Swimming Pools, including those at St Annes and Kirkham, will be incorporating specialised swimming safety activities and games into all school swimming lessons.

The YMCA will be using activities and resources provided by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, which is the UK’s drowning prevention charity, to teach local youngsters and their parents about the risk of being in, on and around water.

YMCA’s focus on drowning prevention will start with a Rookie Beach Party in Fleetwood on Saturday and Dave Parker, YMCA’s aquatic senior manager said: “It is shocking that drowning is still the third highest cause of accidental deaths of children in the UK and that one person drowns every 20 hours.

“Hundreds more suffer life changing injuries through near drowning. We at YMCA Fylde Coast think this is unacceptable. We are committed to teaching swimming and lifesaving skills and supporting the continued provision for swimming in all of our communities.

“We are offering our full support to the excellent work of the RLSS by continuously serving the youth in our community, providing them with valuable life skills which can keep them safe near water.”

Call the pool at St Annes (01253 722986) or Kirkham (01772 682989).