03/06/2026
***Urgent Advice to all parents & residents across Local Areas ***
Good evening Parents/ all
With the warmer weather here and as we approach Summer, we know many of our families are heading to pools, beaches, and parks etc.
While water brings a lot of fun, it can also bring unexpected risks and serious dangers.
We request that you take just 10 minutes this week to have an open, honest conversation with your children about water safety.
Here are a few quick talking points to cover:
▪️Always ask first: Never go near or into water (pools, lakes, rivers, or the ocean) without a trusted adult explicitly saying it’s okay.
▪️The buddy system: Never swim alone.
▪️Look out for hazards: Remind them there can be many hidden hazards beneath the surface and that open water behaves differently than a pool—strong currents, sudden drop-offs, and cold temperatures can surprise even strong swimmers.
▪️What to do in an emergency: Teach them to "Call, Don't Crawl." If a friend is in trouble, they should yell for help or throw a floating object🛟 but never jump in to save them - ☎️ 999
▪️Drowning is quick and silent, but a simple conversation can make all the difference.
▪️We cannot overstate the importance of water safety education.
▪️Swimming lessons are fantastic, but the absolute first line of defense is awareness.
▪️Life Jackets Matter: If you are on a boat, kayak, or near open water, life jackets are non-negotiable.
It only takes a moment for a situation to become dangerous. By educating our children and setting strict boundaries now, we can prevent tragedies before they happen.
▪️Float to live : lean back, tilt your head above water and calmly control breathing, then swim to safety.
🚨 Parents: Please talk to your kids about water safety, DON'T have the mindset of "It won't happen to us"🚨
Sadly, we have had reports recently of youths jumping into the river from bridges at previous locations of drownings !
