North Wales safety event launches Plas Menai Swim Safe

The free, hour-long sessions teach young people how to swim safely outdoors and what to do if they, or someone else, get into difficulty in the water.

A special water safety day has been arranged on Friday 21 June to help launch the two-day public Swim Safe event at Plas Menai. As well as taking part in Swim Safe, local school children will have the opportunity to meet a team from North Wales Fire and Rescue Mon SAR, hear safety talks and demonstrations from the volunteers of Beaumaris RNLI and take part in a beach clean and foraging session with the staff of Plas Menai.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas will also be visiting Plas Menai on Friday 21 June to meet the Swim Safe team and learn more about the outdoor water safety programme.

The Swim Safe programme aims to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy’s aim of reducing accidental drowning by 50 per cent by 2026, to which Swim Wales and the RNLI are committed as members of the National Water Safety Forum. Each Swim safe sessions is run by qualified instructors, lifeguards and volunteers.

Hope Filby from Swim Safe Wales, says:

‘Children love swimming outdoors, but it’s very different to swimming in a pool, where most children learn to swim.

‘It’s essential children learn about open water safety – where it is safe to swim, how to stay safe and what to do if they get into difficulty in the water.

‘We want all children to have access to this training, so all Swim Safe sessions are funded by the RNLI and Swim Wales partnership and so are completely free of charge. To take part, children must be aged between 7 and 14 and able to swim 25 metres unaided.’

All the kit needed to take part, including wetsuits, swim hats and flotation equipment, is provided for each child during the sessions. Children only need to bring their swimsuit and a towel. Each session gives children:

· Up to 30 minutes of practical, in-water tuition led by qualified instructors

· Essential open water safety advice.

For more information about Swim Safe, visit swimsafe.org.uk

RNLI media contact

For more information contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 01745 585162 / 07771 941390 or email [email protected]. Alternatively contact Mike Carhart-Harris, Public Relations Manager (Campaigns), RNLI, on 01202 663168 / [email protected]

Notes to Editors

Swim Safe will be held at these locations on the following dates:

Plas Menai: 22-23 June

Tenby South Beach: 26 – 28 July

Tywyn Beach: 10-12 August.

Cardiff: 11-25 August.

Criccieth: 23-25 August.

Members of the public can book on to any of the free Swim Safe sessions for free visiting SwimSafe.org.uk/locations.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.