By Staff Writer
Originally published on OnTheWight.com
Raising Awareness Nationwide: Drowning Prevention Week 2025
Drowning Prevention Week, taking place from 14th to 21st June, is one of the UK’s largest and most impactful water safety campaigns. Spearheaded by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), this campaign aims to educate communities, children, and families on the risks associated with water and how to stay safe in and around it.
Through structured educational programs, community outreach, and a wealth of free resources, the initiative continues to save lives—one lesson at a time.
Drowning: A Global Crisis With Local Relevance
Each year, drowning claims the lives of approximately 300,000 people globally. Tragically, children under the age of five account for nearly a quarter of these deaths—about 75,000 young lives lost annually. These figures underscore the urgent need for widespread education and proactive water safety measures.
At American Lifeguard USA, we join RLSS and other safety organizations worldwide in advocating for consistent, early, and community-rooted education to tackle this crisis head-on.
Local Heroes: The Isle of Wight’s Life-Saving Campaigns
Todd Miller, RLSS Lifesaving Lead for the Isle of Wight, has been at the forefront of localized drowning prevention efforts. Collaborating with Ryde and Sandown Beach Lifeguards and Waterside Pool, Todd and his team have taken life-saving knowledge directly to the community.
With support from Southern Water, the ‘Sea Safe’ programme reached hundreds of children across Island schools including:
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St Francis
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St Blasius
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God shill
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Green mount
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Brading
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Broadlea
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Oakfield
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Bembridge
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And local Home Educated groups
Teaching the SAFE Principles: Knowledge for Life
The campaign focused on the SAFE framework, a simple yet effective tool to help children internalize water safety:
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S – Spot the Dangers: Recognize local water hazards like strong currents or sudden depth changes.
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A – Advice: Learn the meaning of lifeguard flags, beach signage, and safe zones.
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F – Friends: Always swim with a buddy—never alone.
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E – Emergency: Know how and when to call for help (e.g., dial 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).
These sessions, led by trained Beach Lifeguards, equip children with practical knowledge and the confidence to enjoy water safely.
Expanding Impact Through Pools and Media
Waterside Pool in Ryde is incorporating lifesaving skills into swimming lessons for all ages. The center also supports Drowning Prevention Week by distributing RLSS-funded activity sheets and crayons to children, engaging them while they wait for lessons.
Sev Mouletin, a swimming teacher at Waterside, even appeared on BBC Radio Solent to promote water safety and encourage wider participation in the initiative.
Must Read: Malcolm Jamal Warner’s Tragic Drowning
Resources for Parents: Education Starts at Home
The RLSS provides free, downloadable resources for parents via their website. These include:
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Activity sheets
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Games
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Water safety quizzes
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Instructional videos
These tools allow families to make water safety a shared learning experience, reinforcing lessons from schools and leisure centers.
The Call to Action: Community and Parental Involvement
Todd Miller emphasizes that education is the most effective form of prevention:
“Education is the best preventive action we can take to minimise the risk of any local drowning, especially over the summer months. I encourage all parents to use the free RLSS resources to educate their children and themselves on how to stay safe at the beach this summer.”
American Lifeguard USA: Championing Drowning Prevention Across the Atlantic
At American Lifeguard USA, we commend the tireless work being done by RLSS and local teams across the UK. In the U.S., we echo these efforts through:
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Certified lifeguard training programs
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School and camp water safety partnerships
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Public awareness campaigns aligned with seasonal risks
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Multilingual educational materials to reach diverse communities
We believe prevention through education is the most cost-effective and humane approach to addressing this preventable tragedy.
Additional Measures to Enhance Water Safety
To complement existing efforts, we recommend:
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Mandatory water safety curriculum in elementary schools
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Community water safety audits during peak seasons
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Enhanced training for teachers and caregivers
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Support for underserved communities and non-swimmers
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Integration of water safety into youth development programs
About the Author
Avani James is a certified water safety educator and training coordinator at American Lifeguard USA. Dedicated to reducing water-related accidents, Avani works closely with schools, municipal bodies, and emergency responders to spread awareness and improve water safety infrastructure in communities across the U.S.
