Date posted 15 Jun 2018
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GLL, the UK’s largest provider of public swimming through its customer brand, Better is offering water safety sessions in support of Drowning Prevention Week, the national campaign from the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) which runs 15-25 June.

Over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year – equivalent to one person drowning every 20 hours, with hundreds more suffering from life-changing injuries due to near drowning. Latest statistics show that more people die from drowning in the UK than from road cycling accidents.

With 18 million annual swim visits across 140 Better facilities, GLL recognises the importance of water safety and, as such, is engaging adults and children in a fun yet educational way to ensure they understand the importance of remaining safe and vigilant when in or around water.

Throughout Drowning Prevention Week, over 200,000 pupils in Better Swim School and School Swimming lessons will take part in a water safety-focussed swimming lesson ahead of the summer holidays. Pupils will learn how to spot hazards and dangers and how to stay safe in and around water.

In addition, a number of GLL’s Community Sport Managers will be visiting schools to talk to children about the importance of water safety.

Emma Lewis, Senior Aquatics Manager at GLL said: “As the largest provider of public pools in the UK, 385,000 prepaid adult members have access to our pools – as well as many other adults and children that regularly visit our facilities. As such, it is crucial that we ensure that we, alongside RLSS UK, champion the importance of water safety.

Our Swim School lessons provide an ideal opportunity to share the water safety message with our customers and encourage them to be safe around water.

“With our Better School’s Swimming Programme, we have a strong commitment to raising standards and influencing the relevant people to enable us to make a lasting change. School swimming lessons as part of the National Curriculum offer a great opportunity to teach every child to swim and to be safe around water, whilst learning this fundamental life skill.”

For more information on Drowning Prevention Week or advice on how you can stay safe, visit www.rlss.org.uk