Last Friday (17 June), Huw Merriman, MP for the Bexhill and Battle constituency, organised a life-saving skills session for local primary schools on Bexhill seafront.

The MP arranged the session to help raise awareness of Drowning Prevention Week which runs from 18-25 June.  The outdoor classroom session was designed to help children understand how to play and swim safely in the sea and near open water during the summer months ahead.

Over 44% of accidental drownings happen between May and August each year as people head to beaches and lakes for some summer fun so the MP was keen to help deliver water safety advice.

Dean Baker, the Chair of Hastings Life Guard Club, lead the interactive session for the children at Bexhill beach.  They learnt about how to be safe in the water, what dangers to look out for and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Speaking after the session, Huw said: 

“Following a meeting on water safety in Parliament, I decided that, as MP for a coastal community, the best way to raise the importance of learning about water safety and drowning prevention was to organise a drowning prevention session for local schools.

“With the help of the Royal Life Saving Society, I was pleased to welcome Year 5 pupils from St Peter and St Paul CE Primary school to an outdoor lesson on Bexhill seafront with experienced local Life Guard, Dean Baker. 

“I’d like to thank Dean for delivering a brilliant session. The pupils asked some excellent questions and were a real credit to their school and teachers. I am sure they learned a lot. I will now be sharing water safety curriculum resources with all local primary schools ahead of the summer holidays.”

For further information about Drowning Prevention week visit https://www.rlss.org.uk