Water Safety and the Need to Learn How to Swim.

Water Safety and Swimming

Swimming is an important life skill that teaches us water safety as well as has many other benefits. Being able to swim gives us the opportunity to take part in fun, enjoyable water exercise and maintain cardiovascular health.

Understanding water conditions is an essential part of participating in many outdoor activities. Most people will learn to swim at a swimming pool, which is the safest environment in which to learn. It can also be a calm and relaxing place to learn how to overcome the fear of water.

underwater swimmer

However despite the safe environment of the swimming pool, there are still about 15 deaths by drowning in swimming pools each year in Great Britain. But when you consider that there are about 350 million visits to public swimming pools each year, plus many visits to pools in hotels, gyms, holiday parks and at home, the swimming pool remains a safe environment.

The Government has recognised that it is essential that children learn about the principles and skills of water safety and survival, which is why swimming is a compulsory component of the PE curriculum in primary schools. By the age of 11 all children must be able to safely swim a minimum of 25 metres.

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