Water Safety
Dear Parents and Carers,
With hot weather warnings in place, East Sussex County Council has asked us to remind families about the importance of water safety. During periods of high temperatures, children, young people, and families may be seeking ways to cool down, so it is especially important to stay safe around water.
Please take extra care when entering rivers, lakes, or the sea. Sudden exposure to cold water can cause cold water shock, which may lead to gasping, loss of breathing control, and in some cases, drowning.
Please remember to:
- Avoid swimming in unsupervised rivers, lakes, or open water
- Always choose safe, supervised places to swim, such as lifeguarded beaches or swimming pools
- Never enter the water after consuming alcohol or drugs
- Check weather conditions, tides, and local safety advice before visiting coastal areas: weather, sea conditions and tide times
- In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you are deaf or have a speech impairment, you can send an emergency SMS
Useful information for families:
- Learn about coastal risks and how to stay safe with advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
- Entering cold water to escape extreme heat can pose serious health risks—find out more about cold water shock
- Keep your family safe at home, at the beach, in rivers, and in pools with resources from the Royal Life Saving Society
- Avoid entering the water after consuming alcohol or drugs, as they significantly increase the risk of accidents, including drowning (see Don’t Drink and Drown)
For more advice on staying safe during hot weather, please read the latest guidance from the UK Health Security Agency.
From eastsussex.gov.uk