Lymington RNLI to partner on a water safety education programme

This partnership will offer school aged children the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills needed to enjoy the water safely. As part of this programme the Lymington Sea Water Baths have become one of the local RNLI Ambassadors.

Whilst our key mission has remained unchanged over the years we know we cannot save everyone. Our preventative work in enhancing water safety has become even more important. This safety imperative seeks to train, inform and most importantly, educate on every aspect of Water Safety.

Educating children and young people about water safety is fundamental to saving lives at sea and a core part of our prevention work. We want to ensure young people in our community learn vital water safety messages, helping to keep them safe now and in the future

Lymington Sea Water Baths is located within a coastal community, so understands how important it is for everyone to learn vital water safety messages, helping to keep them safe now and in the future. As a large, unheated saltwater pool, Lymington Sea Water Baths provides the perfect location for safe, practical education.

The Lymington Sea Baths host thousands of school children each year, who come from across the country to make use of our saltwater pool and aqua park. Hugo Ambrose from the Sea Baths said 'During these visits we have noticed a worrying lack of basic water skills from many children within these groups. This is highlighted in a report by sports England, where only 59% of all children and young people in school Years 1-11 (ages 5-16) can swim 25m unaided. This percentage is likely reduced when swimming in open water environments. We provide a supervised and safe environment for children during their visit to the baths, but the number of young people lacking basic water skills raises concerns when children and young adults venture out into unsupervised aquatic environments. By offering an integrated water safety session based on an RNLI syllabus we hope to instil essential skills and knowledge that will empower individuals to enjoy aquatic activities safely and responsibly.'

Water Safety Content

During the water safety segment, students will learn key RNLI messages on topics such as:

• Recognising cold water shock

• Understanding rip currents

• Learning the 'Float to Live' technique

• How to enjoy the water safely

If you wish to book a trip to the Sea Water Baths without a water safety session, visit

www.lymingtonseawaterbaths.org.uk

Suzanne Brown, Lifeboat Press Officer, Lymington Lifeboat Station [email protected].uk

Hatti Mellor, Regional Media Officer, SE and London . M:07724801305

:[email protected]

For enquiries outside normal business hours contact the RNLI duty press officer on (01202) 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.