Published 24 July 2026

National Water Safety Forum launches UK strategies for World Drowning Prevention Day

A new UK Drowning Prevention Strategy to prevent accidental drownings in the UK, has launched in support of World Drowning Prevention Day which takes place on Saturday 25 July. The strategy, published by the National Water Safety Forum, of which the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is a member, is backed by more than 130 charities, search and rescue organisations, researchers and campaigners.  

The new strategy, alongside targeted drowning prevention strategies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are also being launched, aims to build a future in which everyone in the UK can be safe while in, on or around the water.  

You can see the strategies here: Strategy | National Water Safety Forum

Across the four nations, targets include strengthening water safety education, increasing public awareness of the risks of water though water safety campaigns, and responding to new risks presented by climate change and extreme weather, including heatwaves.   

Chris Kirby, Chair of NFCC’s Prevention Committee, said:

“The launch of the new UK Drowning Prevention Strategy is an important step towards reducing the number of people who lose their lives in water-related incidents. Every drowning is a tragedy, and the recent deaths we have seen across the UK underline why drowning prevention and water safety education must remain a national priority.” 

As recent weeks have tragically revealed, accidental drowning is a significant public health issue in the UK. In one week, from May 24 to 31, at least 19 people lost their lives in accidental water-related fatalities, many of them children and teenagers. According to the Water Incident Database (WAID), more than a quarter (26 per cent) of all accidental drowning deaths that occurred in the five-year period 2020 to 2024 were young people aged 10 to 29.  

Sadly, warm weather is known to be a factor in increasing accidental drowning deaths. When the weather turns hot, many teenagers and young adults head to the water to socialise and cool off, often unaware that even on the hottest days, open water can remain dangerously cold and conceal hidden currents, sudden drops and submerged objects. 

With the potential of more hot weather and heatwaves being forecast for the UK during August, water safety experts are urging the public to learn how to ‘Find Your Float’ in a safe, supervised environment like a swimming pool or lifeguarded beach. 

How to find your float:  

  • Tilt your head back with your ears submerged 
  • Relax and try to breathe normally 
  • Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat 
  • It’s OK if your legs sink, everybody floats differently 
  • Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety

NFCC believes that education plays a vital role in helping young people to understand the risks around water and how to stay safe. NFCC’s StayWise education platform is a key tool in delivering water safety education for fire and rescue services and has dedicated water safety resources for fire and rescue services, educators and families.  

In addition to contributing and supporting national campaigns through the National Water Safety Forum, NFCC runs a dedicated drowning prevention week, ‘Be Water Aware’, providing messaging and resources which can be used throughout the year.  

ENDS

Notes

Key resources can be accessed through the links below: