Families across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole still have the chance to take part in free water safety workshops designed to teach potentially life-saving skills before the summer holidays come to an end.
Non-profit community initiative Beachwise, in partnership with the RNLI and supported by BCP Leisure, has been running a series of interactive water safety and in-water self-rescue sessions at Rossmore Leisure Centre throughout August.
Several of the sessions have now taken place, but workshops are continuing until Friday 28 August, giving families more opportunities to get involved.
Learning how to stay safe in the water
Beachwise has already delivered water safety education to more than 12,000 children across the BCP area this year.
The family sessions take that work a step further, giving parents and children the opportunity to learn together.
Participants are taught practical self-rescue techniques, how to recognise potential dangers around water and what to do in an emergency.
Jonathan Kane, founder of Beachwise, said teaching practical in-water safety and self-rescue skills is essential to saving lives.
He said the sessions are designed to give both parents and children the confidence and skills they need to stay safe around water.
Working with the RNLI
The RNLI has been working alongside Beachwise this summer to deliver important water safety messages to children and their parents.
Kim Dugan, the RNLI's regional water safety education manager for the South East, said practising life-saving techniques in the water can make a real difference.
This includes the RNLI's Float to Live advice, which teaches people what to do if they unexpectedly find themselves struggling in the water.
BCP Council also works with the RNLI lifeguard service and provides rescue equipment along the area's coastline as part of its wider approach to water safety.
Remaining August sessions
A number of the original August workshops have already taken place, but families can still book onto the remaining sessions at Rossmore Leisure Centre:
Friday 21 August: 11.30am and 12.30pm
Tuesday 25 August: 11.30am and 1.30pm
Wednesday 26 August: 1.30pm
Thursday 27 August: 11.30am and 12.30pm
Friday 28 August: 11.30am and 12.30pm
To reserve a place, families should contact Rossmore Leisure Centre reception on 01202 817 777, Option 1.
Encouraging families to get involved
Cllr Richard Herrett, BCP Council's Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure and Commercial Operations, said the Council wants everyone visiting and enjoying the local area to be able to do so safely.
He encouraged parents and children to take advantage of the remaining Beachwise sessions and highlighted the Council's wider water safety work, including Learn to Swim programmes, its partnership with the RNLI lifeguard service and rescue equipment along the coastline.
BCP Leisure has also been running its Swim Sure Summer campaign across its leisure centres, including Two Riversmeet and Poole Dolphin.
Residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can also access one free swim each month at participating BCP Leisure centres by signing up for a BCP LIFE card.
