Press release -
Council makes waves for Drowning Prevention Week
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is making a splash this summer as they take part in Drowning Prevention Week 2019.
Drowning Prevention Week, created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), will see a deluge of water safety activity flood the UK and Ireland from 14 – 24 June.
The national campaign aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water, and a host of free resources have been produced to help supporters promote water safety.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is teaming up with the RLSS UK, RNLI and Community Rescue Service to deliver events to raise awareness of water safety this summer.
Council has an array of activities to help you stay safe near water this summer. Events programmes have been delivered to all the schools in Mid and East Antrim.
There are three FREE Water Wise workshops happening in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne Leisure Centres for kids aged 8-15
- Seven Towers, Ballymena: 15 June 12pm-1pm T: 028 2563 3382 to book
- Larne Leisure Centre: 15 June 11am-12pm T: 028 2826 2497 to book
- Carrickfergus Amphitheatre: 23 June 10-11am T: 028 9335 8342 to book
We also have three Beach Bonanza events happening in Carnlough, Glenarm and Ballygally over June, July and August where the RNLI will be helping share their top tips for water safety.
More than 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more have non-fatal (also known as near drowning) experiences, sometimes suffering life changing injuries.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Cllr Maureen Morrow said council is proud to play its part in trying to cut this number: “It is so important to remind people to stay safe near water, especially at this high-risk time of the year. We are only too happy to be involved with Drowning Prevention Week.”
Di Steer, RLSS UK’s Chief Executive, said: “We urge as many people as possible to take advantage of the activities run by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and learn what could be potentially lifesaving skills. We thank council for getting involved with the campaign and for helping people learn the skills they need to stay safe and enjoy the water.”
Let us know what you are doing for Drowning Prevention Week by using the hashtags #DPW or #StopDrowning
For more information go to www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/BeachBonanza or check out our event pages www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/events
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- For Mid and East Antrim Borough Council media enquiries T: 028 2563 5037 E: communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk
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- The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the Drowning Prevention Charity. More than 400 people drown in the UK every year and the RLSS UK aims to prevent drowning through water safety education. Through its trading subsidiary, IQL UK, there are more than 90,000 RLSS UK Pool Lifeguards in the UK trained in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). Around 95 per cent of all pool lifeguards are trained by the RLSS UK. RLSS UK awards and programmes teach a range of lifesaving skills ranging from life support (CPR) to water survival and rescue skills. Programmes include Rookie Lifeguard, Survive and Save and Save a Baby’s Life (a free course aimed at parents and carers of young children). The RLSS UK (then the Life Saving Society) was formed in 1891. In 1904, as there was great support for the organisation from the Royal Family, the society was granted permission to use the Royal title and became the Royal Life Saving Society
