PRESS RELEASE

1^st June 2016

STA LAUNCHES NATIONAL WATER SAFETY WEEK

Did you know? More people drowned in the UK last year than died in a fire-related incident and drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK

STA, the UK's leading charity dedicated to the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques, is launching its second annual national water safety campaign next week, with a host of events and activities.

The campaign week, which runs from June 6-10, will involve hundreds of swim schools and schools (and thousands of youngsters) taking part to raise awareness about the importance of water safety education.

To complement the campaign, STA has created a host of free resources for swim schools and schools to use during the week, including free water safety booklets, activity sheets, lesson plans, assembly videos, posters, and certificates - and lots more.

Richard Timms, STA's President, said: "Enjoying water - whether at a beach or in a swimming pool on holiday or taking a relaxing walk along a canal or river - is one of life's pleasures but it's important that people of all ages understand how to be safe in and around water.

"The focus of our campaign is to ensure that as many people as possible are educated about the potential dangers of waterways because one drowning is too many."

As part of the water safety week campaign, STA has produced an emotional video, which features four families whose loved ones have drowned.

It includes Beckie Ramsay, who has been campaigning for water safety education since her 13-year old son, Dylan drowned in the summer of 2011 after jumping into the water at Hill Top Quarry, near Chorley, Lancashire.

She said: "If we can save just one more life and prevent more families going through what we have, it will be worth it."

The video also features the heart-breaking stories of Cameron Gosling, who drowned on July 5, 2014, aged 14; James Goodship, who was 16 when he drowned on June 3, 2014; and David Layfield, who drowned 11 years ago, aged 13.

The families said they wanted to tell their stories so that parents understand the importance of teaching children how to be safe in and around the water. The video will be officially released on 6^th June at www.sta.co.uk

Richard said with 338 water-related deaths recorded in the UK alone in 2014* - with a huge rise in drowning in June, July and August - and thousands more suffering because of near-drowning, it is vital that we continue to drive home the message about keeping safe in and around water.

"More people drowned in the UK last year than died in a fire-related or drink-driving incident and drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK, so it is absolutely vital that we focus strongly on our safety campaign," he said.

"We've more schools and swim schools taking part in the week, which is great news. We are also encouraging them to pledge their support on social media and use the hashtag #WaterSafetyPledge so that we reach as many people as possible."

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NOTES TO EDITOR

*Source: National Water Safety Forum

• Shockingly, more people drowned in the UK last year than died in a fire-related or drink-driving incident.

• Drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK.

• Many people who drown are ACTUALLY strong swimmers - so being aware of what cold water shock and the dangers that can lurk beneath the water are as important as learning to swim.

• Figures from 2014 showed a huge rise in the number of deaths in the months June, July and August. Teenagers and young men are at particular risk of drowning in inland waters, with 69 males aged 15 to 29 drowning in 2014.

• The highest proportion of those who lost their lives in 2014 did not intend to be in the water - the main activity they were doing was walking or running alongside water.

• Fewer than half of England's 11-year-olds can swim 25 metres by the time they leave primary school - despite being a requirement of the national curriculum - with one in 20 primary schools offering no swimming at all in the last four years.

• In a recent survey carried out by What's on 4 for STA, only 16% of the parents surveyed with school aged children knew what all the 4 points of the Water Safety Code are.

 For more information on how you can pledge your support to this year's campaign visitwww.sta.co.ukwhere there is also a free downloadable water safety booklet, which gives advice and tips on how to stay safe in and around water.

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For further information, please contact:

Samantha Stewart

Imagine Communications

Tel: 01746 763576

Email: s.stewart@imagine-comms.co.uk