Drowning Prevention Week takes place from 13-20 June 2026. Led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the campaign is timed ahead of the summer holidays, when children are more likely to spend time in and around water.
It's an important reminder that learning to swim is about much more than building confidence in the pool. It's a life skill that can help keep children safe and, in some cases, save lives.
Why learning to swim matters
Every week, over 50,000 children learn with our swim school, and demand for lessons continues to grow as summer approaches.
With that comes an important responsibility. Alongside helping children develop their swimming ability, we make sure they learn the skills and knowledge they need to stay safe in and around water.
According to RLSS UK research, 47% of all accidental drownings in the UK happen between May and August. The risk also increases significantly during periods of hot weather, when more people head outdoors and spend time near rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the coast.
The reality is that no child should lose their life to drowning. With the right education and awareness, many incidents can be prevented.
Building water confidence and safety skills
Water safety is part of every swimming lesson we deliver, but during Drowning Prevention Week we place even greater focus on helping children understand how to stay safe.
Alongside developing their swimming technique, children learn important safety messages, including the Water Safety Code.
Whenever you are around water:
Stop and think – Take time to assess your surroundings, look for dangers and research local signs and advice.
Stay together – When around water always go with friends or family. Swim at a lifeguarded venue
In an emergency:
Call 999 – Ask for the Fire and Rescue Service when inland and the Coastguard if at the coast. Don’t enter the water to rescue.
Float – Fall in or become tired: stay calm, float on your back and call for help. Throw something that floats to somebody that has fallen in.
Our qualified swimming teachers also help children develop practical lifesaving skills, such as floating, treading water and staying calm if they unexpectedly find themselves in deep water.
Just as importantly, we give children opportunities to practise these skills regularly, helping them feel more confident about how to respond in an emergency.
We hope those conversations continue beyond the pool too, encouraging children to share what they've learned with family and friends.
Helping families stay safe around water
Water safety education isn't just for children.
Many adults may never have received formal water safety education themselves, which is why raising awareness among families is so important. Research from RLSS UK found that more than half of parents are not confident their child would know what to do if they fell into open water.
By talking about water safety at home and reinforcing key messages, we can all play a role in helping prevent accidents.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in and around water, with more than 300 lives lost across the UK and Ireland each year. That's why access to water safety education matters so much. For some children, it may be their only opportunity to learn these vital skills.
We're committed to helping more people develop the confidence, knowledge and practical skills they need to stay safe around water.
Free Water Safety Resources
Last year, RLSS UK's free resources helped educate an estimated 2.4 million children about water safety.
If you'd like to continue the conversation at home, their free resources are packed with practical advice and activities to help children understand how to stay safe around water.
Visit the RLSS UK website to explore the resources and learn more about Drowning Prevention Week.
Swimming lessons for every stages
Our swimming lessons are designed for children and adults of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to confident swimmers looking to develop their skills further.
Delivered by fully qualified instructors in a friendly and supportive environment, our lessons help swimmers build confidence in the water while learning skills that can last a lifetime.
Swimming also offers many wider benefits, supporting physical wellbeing, self-confidence and resilience, while giving children and adults the chance to enjoy being active in a fun and welcoming setting.
Find your nearest centre here to learn more about our swimming lessons programme.
Water safety visits for schools and clubs
Invite our team into your school or club for a water safety visit that helps children learn important skills in a relaxed and engaging way. These sessions are designed to build awareness, confidence and understanding of how to stay safe around water, with clear messages they can take away and use in everyday life.
Book a water safety visit for your school or club by tapping the button below.