Over 100 children from across eight of Gloucester’s schools will get the chance to try their hand at water polo with a GB player as part of a day of fun that aims to teach vital life-saving skills.

The youngsters will all be taking part in the water safety awareness campaign Get Safe 4 Summer, run by the asa (the national governing body involved in every component of swimming), in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society.

The fun packed day is being held at GL1 – Gloucester Leisure Centre on Tuesday 8th July 2008 with the aim of delivering important water safety messages and to highlight that swimming is the only sport that can save your life.

There will be activities both in and out of the centre’s pool and GB water polo player Fran Leighton, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002, will be leading a fun game of water polo with the children. They will also take part in a number of activities including life-saving skills such as CPR, wading and tow rescues.

Leighton said: “I have spent a large part of my life in the water and I know how much fun swimming and aquatic ball games can be if done properly. The problem is that when the hot summer weather gets here it is tempting to take a dip or play in places such as rivers or lakes which may not be as safe so it is important that children know how to assess the dangers.”

The Get Safe 4 Summer campaign teaches children all the important things they need to know when visiting coastal and inland waters over the summer holidays, from how they can spot the dangers themselves to how to act in an emergency. 

This year the campaign has also launched a new website – www.getsafe4summer.org – which contains information about regional and local events, facts and figures and how to host a Get Safe 4 Summer event.

On average, one person drowns in the UK every 17 hours and drowning is still the third highest cause of accidental death amongst children with most occurring in inland waters such as rivers, lakes and ponds. Get Safe 4 Summer delivers important water safety messages for children to take with them.

The asa Chief Executive David Sparkes said: “The ability to recognise dangers and a knowledge of water safety is just as important as being able to swim. As the summer holidays approach the asa’s Get Safe 4 Summer Campaign is all about raising awareness that swimming in open water such as lakes, rivers, canals and the sea is very different from the pool. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the water but in a safe and sensible way.”

Facts & Figures
· Every 17 hours someone in the UK drowns
· On average 450 - 500 people drown every year
· Drowning in this country is the 3rd highest cause of accidental death in children
· At least three quarters of drowning victims are male
· In 2005 75 children drowned whilst on holiday abroad
· Drowning locations:
Approx 20% of all drownings are at coastal locations
Approx 62% of all drownings are at inland waters - rivers, lakes, canals, reservoirs etc
The remaining 18% are roughly broken up as follows:
Home baths - 10%
Swimming pools - 4%
Garden ponds - 3%
Other - 1%
· The safest place to swim or bathe is a beach or swimming pool protected by qualified lifeguards
· Pre-school children are most at risk from the domestic environment: the bath, a garden pond or a water butt
· Older children are more vulnerable at open water sites, usually away from parental supervision.

-ENDS-

For more information contact the asa PR Assistant on 01509 632238 or email claire.freeman@swimming.org

The asa is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The asa supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The asa aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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