Youngsters across Basildon and Wickford have been getting vital water safety training as part of a major community initiative.
More than 2,000 children from 11 local primary schools took part in interactive workshops during National Drowning Prevention Week earlier this month.
The sessions were run by Everyone Active, which manages local leisure facilities across Basildon in partnership with Basildon Borough Council.
Schools taking part included North Crescent Primary School in Wickford, Millhouse Primary School in Basildon, Warren Primary School in Grays, Greensted Primary School in Basildon, Ingrave Johnstone Primary School and Eversley Primary School.
Julie Hearn, swim manager at Wickford Swim and Fitness Centre, led many of the sessions and was impressed by the children’s enthusiasm.
“It was incredible to see how engaged the students were,” she said. “They absorbed all the crucial information about recognising dangerous waters and responding to emergencies with incredible enthusiasm.”
The workshops, delivered by Swim England qualified swimming instructors, taught children how to spot water hazards, what to do in an emergency and basic rescue techniques.
Most schools had whole-school assemblies, while one school arranged special sessions for Year 5 and 6 pupils.
The sessions covered practical safety knowledge including understanding beach safety flags and identifying everyday objects that could be used in rescue situations such as branches, balls, and clothing.
Children also learned about proper rescue equipment, with demonstrations featuring life rings which can be seen in photographs from the sessions.
Shaun Beagle, Everyone Active’s area contract manager, said: “Having good water safety awareness from a young age is absolutely essential, particularly ahead of the summer holidays and with the warm weather we’ve been experiencing recently drawing more families to the water.
“The more interactive and memorable we can make that education, the better prepared these children will be to stay safe around any body of water for life.”
Cllr Jack Ferguson, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport, Children & Young People, said: “I am pleased to see these youngsters from across the borough took advantage the life saving skills training during Drowning Prevention Week.
“As the summer holidays are fast approaching, I am sure that the skills the children have acquired will prove useful and help reassure parents and guardians while away on holidays in pools and on the beach.”
National Drowning Prevention Week ran from June 14-21 and is organised by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to raise awareness about water safety.
The campaign aims to educate people about protecting themselves and others around water, particularly important as more families head to beaches, rivers and swimming pools during the summer months.
Everyone Active says the programme has been so successful they plan to expand it to even more local schools next year.
The organisation runs swimming pools and leisure centres across Basildon and is committed to promoting water safety in the community.