Parents are being advised to consider safety when booking a family break.
Research conducted by RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, shows that in the 7 years up to 2009, 67 British children, aged from 0 to 17, drowned while on holiday abroad.
Though the deaths occurred in 19 countries across the world, the vast majority happened in the popular European destinations of: Spain, France and Greece. There were 26 deaths in Spain, 9 in France and 7 in Greece and the Greek Islands. Of the 67 deaths, 26 occurred in hotel pools, 15 were in the sea and 11 took place in private swimming pools, for example at villas. The rest happened in lakes, rivers and canals.Holiday Safety Tips Reputable holiday specialists should have information on how appropriate their properties are for children, and you must not be afraid to ask questions about the swimming pool or any other aspect of the safety arrangements
If you are considering staying in a hotel or apartment, see if the pool has a lifeguard on duty at the poolside. You should be aware that a 'pool attendant' is probably not going to be a trained lifeguard.
If you prefer a villa, ask whether it has pool safety fencing with lockable gates and, if you have young children, think twice before booking if it doesn't.
Peter Cornall, RoSPA's head of leisure safety, said:
'Holidays are great opportunities for children to get out and experience the world around them. Thinking about the swimming pool options before you travel should enable you to choose a destination that's both fun and safe for your family. The importance of this cannot be overstated; not least because drownings can happen so quickly and so quietly. A child who is drowning does not necessarily cry out for help or wave to be rescued. Instead, they disappear under the surface, often unseen and unheard - even in the busiest of pools."
Taking your children swimming in the months before departure and teaching them about water safety is also a very valuable exercise that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. And, if you have never learned first aid, including how to resuscitate a child, why not investigate local training courses.
When you arrive at your holiday destination, it's really important to take time to check out the pool layout and the location of emergency rescue equipment. Also, bear in mind that a significant number of pool drownings reputedly happen on the first or last day of the holiday, perhaps when parents have been distracted with arrival or departure arrangements and when children have been keen to explore.
Some other points you should consider:
Supervision is vital. Make sure you actively supervise young children near water, perhaps taking it in turns with other adults
Even if your pool has a lifeguard, always know where your children are and what they are doing
Remember, inflatables are not designed as lifesaving equipment and they are not a substitute for supervision or swimming ability.Swimming in the SeaFor those who want to swim in the sea, you should ask if lifeguards are on beach duty, and enquire if there are any areas that should be avoided because of dangerous currents. Make sure you know what the flags mean, both in the UK and abroad - they don't all mean the same thing. See RoSPA for the UK flags. Be particularly vigilant when holidaying during the off-season because there are less likely to be lifeguards on duty and bathing conditions may be quite different at peak times.
February 2011
RoSPA's mission is to save lives and reduce injuries |
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