The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) new campaign, Splash Safety at your Pad, aims to raise awareness among parents and carers of young children about the importance of water safety when at home, focusing on bathtime. The campaign runs from 1-31 October 2024.
According to the RLSS UK, statistics from the National Child Mortality Database, show that on average over the last four years, one child a month has drowned at home. Two out of three drownings at home, occurred in the bath. Children under the age of five were more likely to be affected.
A recent survey by the charity of just over 1,000 parents of children under five also reveals more than half (55 per cent) believe they would hear thrashing and a lot of noise if their child was struggling in the bath, which RLSS UK says is incorrect.
A total of 59 per cent of respondents said they had left the bathroom at least once in the month while their child was in the bath. For most, this was because they had forgotten something, such as a towel.
Matt Croxall, charity director at RLSS UK, said, ‘We find it heartbreaking to learn that one child a month is drowning at home. In a bid to reduce the number of young lives lost, our latest report seeks to help shed light on the factors contributing to child drownings, so that we can help more families be aware of the risks and stay safe.’
‘We always advise parents and carers to keep young children within arm’s reach in water. And if you do need to leave the bathroom at all, take the child with you.’
