Open water warning ahead of half term
Safety campaign ramps up and hard-hitting video shared as weather heats up
A major campaign is warning young people about the dangers of swimming in open water as temperatures look set to increase, writes David Lee.
With half term and the bank holiday approaching – and dry and sunny weather forecast – organisers are ramping up their efforts to educate young people on water safety.
Leisure Focus, which runs Braywick and Windsor leisure centres, is hosting assemblies across the Royal Borough to spread its vital message about staying safe near water this summer.
A hard-hitting video has also been shared as part of the campaign, which explains the dangers of strong underwater currents and urges people to use the ‘Float to Live’ strategy if they get into trouble in the water.
The campaign is being backed by the Maidenhead Advertiser, along with a number of other organisations in the borough.
The first in a number of water safety assemblies took place at Furze Platt Senior School on Monday.
Pupils from Courthouse Junior School learnt about the hazards which exist around open water and what to do if they find themselves in an emergency.
Mark Camp-Overy, chief executive at Leisure Focus, said: “Water safety is such an important message to share with children.
“Forecasts look set to improve in the coming weeks so the timing of the assemblies and the campaign is specifically targeted to reach children and young people as we approach the summer months.”
He added: “It was great to see so many children engage with the assemblies at Furze Platt this week.
“This was the first in a series of assemblies being delivered by swim manager Jo Kilgallon and the Leisure Focus team to highlight and reinforce the importance of being safe around water.”
Further assemblies are planned at Braywick Leisure Centre, Windsor Leisure Centre, Cox Green Theatre and Trevelyan Middle School in Windsor.
The Royal Borough has been struck by a number of open water tragedies in recent years, including the death of 15-year-old Jordan Veira in the River Thames, near Bourne End, on May 31, 2021.
Dr Andrew Morrison, a headteacher at Furze Platt
Senior School, where Jordan studied, said: “The memory of Jordan Veira’s sad death in the Thames two years ago remains very much in the minds of the Furze Platt Senior School and community. Colleagues and friends continue to spread the water safety message around our students and local area to try and prevent further tragedies.
“We hope that by hosting the Leisure Focus drowning prevention assemblies, students in primary schools are also aware of how vital water safety is, and how they can look after themselves and each other.”
■ Visit maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk to watch the campaign video.