Helping toddlers and pre-school children to stay SAFE

It's never too early to start talking to your children about staying safe near water.

Remember to:

• Always hold a child's hand when by the water.
• Make sure the brake is on a pram or pushchair when stationary.
• Look out for other people on busy towpaths before stepping back.
• Talk about staying safe when you're out and about near water.
• Repeat safety messages regularly to help young children remember what to do.

Learning to stay SAFE

We’ve come up with some fun ways to help young children remember how to stay safe near water.

Share our water safety poem

Remember to repeat water safety messages often.

The waterside is fun to go,

But there are things you need to know.

Let's stay safe and not be silly,

The water here is very chilly.

Find your grown-up, hold their hand,

Two steps back is where you stand.

Look out for bugs and ducks that quack,

But always do it two steps back

What to do if a child falls into the water

• There may be other people around, so shout for help as loudly as you can.
• If you have other children with you, make sure they are safe.
• Dial 999 and ask for the Fire & Rescue Service. Explain your location clearly - use road names, bridge numbers, what3words and describe any landmarks.
• Lie down on the ground and try to reach them in the water. Use a tree branch, stick or an item of clothing to reach out to them. Don't get in the water yourself. If they have fallen in, it's likely that they won't be too far away from the edge.
• If you can, haul them out of the water. Do this by lying down on the ground and pulling them out by grabbing their clothes. Don't pull them out from a standing position as you are more likely to fall in the water yourself.
• If you can't get them out, lie on the ground and hold on to them until help arrives.