Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming is an important skill. Being able to swim gives people the opportunity to take part in enjoyable exercise and maintain health. Understanding water safety and water conditions is an essential part of participating in many outdoor activities. Most people will learn to swim at a swimming pool, rather than in open water, and the pool is certainly a safer environment in which to do that.
However despite this safe, regulated environment, there are still about 15 deaths by drowning in swimming pools each year. But when you consider that there are about 350 million visits to public swimming pools in Great Britain 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.
For further information on swimming and water safety in the national curriculum go to www.teachernet.gov.uk/pe. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority have a website dedicated to safe swimming, with advice for teachers, parents and pupils, go to www.nc.uk.net/safeswimming
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