Free Swim Safe sessions return to London Royal Docks Summer Splash

Swim Safe will be running sessions at London – Royal Docks on the following dates:

· Friday 24 July – 5pm

· Saturday 25 July – 10am

· Sunday 26 July – 10am

· Monday 27 July – 5pm

· Tuesday 28 July – 5pm

· Wednesday 29 July – 5pm

· Thursday 30 July – 5pm

· Friday 31 July – 5pm

· Saturday 01 August – 10am

· Sunday 02 August – 10am

· Monday 03 August – 5pm

· Tuesday 04 August – 5pm

· Wednesday 05 August – 5pm

· Thursday 06 August – 5pm

· Friday 07 August – 5pm

· Saturday 08 August – 10am

· Sunday 09 August – 10am

· Monday 10 August – 5pm

· Tuesday 11 August – 5pm

· Wednesday 12 August – 5pm

· Thursday 13 August – 5pm

· Friday 14 August – 5pm

· Saturday 15 August – 10am

· Sunday 16 August – 10am

Swim Safe provides free, 60 minute sessions for children aged 7-14, combining water safety education on land, before entering the water to practice lifesaving skills. Sessions are delivered by qualified instructors giving children the confidence to enjoy the water safely.

Each session includes 30 mins onshore, sharing knowledge on lifesaving techniques, followed by 30 minutes of in water tuition.

Children must be able to swim 25 metres unaided in deep water, and a responsible adult must be present throughout the session.

Swim Safe now operates in over 30 sites across the UK.

Adam Goymer, National Water Safety Manager at Swim England: ‘More than 165,000 children have attended Swim Safe since its establishment in 2013. By educating children about water safety through the Swim Safe programme from a young age, together we can help reduce the number of incidents involving open water.

Sam Johnson, RNLI Water Safety Manager said: ‘Children will also learn and practice how Float to Live. This is a simple technique where you tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can – this technique is proven to save lives.’

Explore the sessions on their website, swimsafe.org.uk.

The Water Safety Code, includes the following key water safety advice for 7-14 year-olds:

• Stop and think – Always swim in a safe place

• Stay together – Always swim with an adult, younger children should always be within arms reach

• Float – If you find yourself in trouble in the water, Float to Live
• In an emergency, call 999

Notes to editors

· See high res photos here.

· See Swim Safe sessions here.

· Link to Swim Safe here.

· Link to Ravi’s Story

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RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Kate Barkley, RNLI Communications Staff Member for RNLI, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 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.