Pembrokeshire remains the top county in Wales for accidental drownings.

In 2022, there were six accidental drownings reported in Pembrokeshire, the same number there were in the previous year, meaning the county is also in the top four counties in the UK for accidental drownings, a recent report from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) shows.

National charity and leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding training across the UK and Ireland, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), is urging those who live in and will be visiting Pembrokeshire this year to engage with their national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, June 17 to 24, to ensure they have the water safety knowledge needed to enjoy a summer by the water.

The charity fears that with summer fast approaching, families will head to the waterways within Pembrokeshire without water basic safety knowledge, and even more fatalities will be seen over the summer months.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months. 46% of UK accidental drownings took place in those three summer months in 2022.

“We want to ensure that everyone can enjoy their summer break and enjoy being in or around water but be safe in the knowledge that they, and their children, have the skills and understanding about water safety, which could potentially save a life. Every life is worth saving.”

For Drowning Prevention Week, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on their website for children, young people and parents and are holding their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign between 17th-24th June to equip everyone across the UK and Ireland with the skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety.

Lee Heard continued: “This year for Drowning Prevention Week we are aiming to educate more young people than ever about water safety and give children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of fun in the water.

“We have a range of free educational resources available on the RLSS UK website, including lesson plans for schools and resources for parents, as well as a brand new animation to engage young people in learning about water safety.

“In a recent survey, one in four parents in the UK haven’t or don’t remember ever discussing water safety with their child(ren).

“Drowning Prevention Week brings the focus of water safety to people’s minds, giving everyone the opportunity to be equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge to be summer ready when it comes to being safe in and around water during the summer months and beyond.”

With the summer holidays looming and families heading to the coastlines and waterways, having an understanding of what to do if you find yourself or someone else in trouble in the water is more important than ever.

Lee Heard added: “If you or someone else finds themselves in difficulty in the water, it’s vital to remember the Water Safety Code: whenever you are around water you should stop and think to assess your surroundings and look for any dangers; stay together when around water and always go with family and friends; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue service when inland and the Coastguard if at the coast; and finally float to live, if you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back and call for help, or if you see someone in the water, throw something that floats to them and resist temptation to go in.”

Drowning Prevention Week takes place June 17 to 24 and free resources can be downloaded from www.rlss.org.uk/dpw.