Come on in, the water’s lovely – but think before you swim

That’s the title of a blog entry by Russell Robson, a Waterways Team Leader for the Environment Agency.

School’s out, it’s hot.

What could be better than to cool off in the water?

Russell says:

We would like people to enjoy the water but to remember some basic safety points when out having fun.

Vigilance can save lives and water-related accidents can be avoided by knowing how to stay safe.

We work hard with local communities to get the safety message out to children and parents, stressing that people stay away from the edge, that children must be accompanied by an adult and swimming should be confined to recognised bathing waters or swimming areas such as pools and lidos.

We often see youngsters jumping off bridges along many of the rivers around the country. While this can be great fun, there are hidden dangers in the water that could cause them to get into difficulties.

For more information including his Top Tips, read Russell’s full article.