Lifeguards and swimming teachers from Barnsley Premier Leisure gave a water safety talk to year 5 children from Kendray Primary School in Barnsley last month to help raise awareness of the issue as part of Child Safety Week (23-29 June.)
The talk covered the dangers of water, how to stay safe and how to get help if someone is in trouble as well as safe use of swimming pools; including why not to run, push others under water, jump on others, dive or jump into shallow water or swim during bad weather.
Barnsley Premier Leisure swimming co-ordinator Tania Hutchinson said: "Learning to swim is a key skill for life, which once learnt is never forgotten. However, children also need to be made aware of the dangers of water, as even advanced swimmers can get into difficulty in certain situations.
"With the summer holidays fast approaching, there is always a risk of young people getting into difficulties in the water.
"Educating young people about water safety gives them greater awareness of the dangers out there and will hopefully make them realise that they need to take care when playing in or near to water.
Child Safety Week, organised by national charity the Child Accident Prevention Trust, helps people understand the real risks to children and the simple changes they can make to reduce those risks - so that children can enjoy safer, healthier, more active lives.
