Bridget Phillipson is advocating for schools to incorporate water safety education into their curriculum before the summer break to prevent potential tragedies involving children.
The Education Secretary commended the Mirror’s impactful Save Lives for Sam campaign, which highlighted the urgent need to address drowning incidents following a distressing week where 19 individuals lost their lives in water-related accidents during an intense heatwave in late May.
A high-level meeting, including various government officials, discussed water safety concerns as part of the response to the recent heatwave.
Starting in September, it will be mandatory for schools to integrate water safety education into Relationships and Sex and Health Education (RSHE) lessons. The guidance emphasizes the importance of teaching children how to identify risks and stay safe around water, along with understanding the water safety code.
Phillipson urged teachers not to postpone educating students on water safety before the summer holidays due to recent tragic incidents. She highlighted the significance of young people grasping water safety concepts, especially amidst current hot weather conditions and recent fatalities.
Encouraging schools and educators to share water safety information with students and families, Phillipson emphasized the availability of resources like the Float to Live toolkit from the RNLI and the National Water Safety framework for teaching purposes.
Keir Starmer showed support for the Save Lives for Sam campaign during the G7 summit, pledging government assistance to bolster the campaign’s efforts in promoting water safety.
The campaign, named after Sam Haycock who tragically drowned in 2021, aims to educate individuals on the water safety code, emphasizing the importance of assessing risks before entering water and ensuring the presence of companions.
In emergencies, the code advises calling 999 for the coastguard or remaining calm, floating on one’s back, and seeking help if in the water.
The Chief Secretary to the PM, Darren Jones, emphasized the necessity of spreading water safety advice following recent tragedies, highlighting the campaign’s call for increased awareness and safety measures.
The Mirror advocates for treating drowning as a national emergency and urges the government to initiate a public awareness campaign ahead of summer holidays, emphasizing safety tips such as avoiding diving into water and raising awareness about cold water shock.
Additionally, the newspaper calls for the implementation of ‘Sam’s Law’ to mandate safety equipment around high-risk bodies of water, aiming to enhance safety measures and prevent water-related incidents.