Horsham Life Saving Club releases powerful video urging lifesaving skills for children

In anticipation of National Drowning Prevention Week (15-22 June 2024), Horsham Life Saving Club has launched a poignant video to emphasise the critical importance of children in Sussex acquiring life-saving skills.

The launch of the video follows statistics from the Royal Lifesaving Society, which highlight how 312 UK and Irish citizens lose their lives to accidental drownings annually. The statistics also disclosed a 46% surge in child drownings in the UK in 2022, compared to the 5-year average, with 49% of accidental drownings occurring between May and August.

With this in mind, the video aims to proactively raise awareness of water safety ahead of the summer season.

Horsham Life Saving Club was formed in 1982 when the first indoor swimming pool was built in the park. The founder, John Stainer, realised that there was now an opportunity to start a volunteering Club to educate the local community in water safety, first aid, CPR, self-rescue, and rescue techniques for others.

Affiliated with the Royal Lifesaving Society UK, Horsham Life Saving Club has been at the forefront of training thousands of local children and young adults in West Sussex. The dedicated team of volunteer leaders provides official National Lifesaving Academy Awards training, covering vital skills such as First Aid, CPR, and waterside lifesaving techniques in swimming pools, open water, and beach settings.

Children aged 12 and above are encouraged to become members of the Horsham Life Saving Club, which offers monthly lessons for £50 per quarter. Upon completing the course, participants receive a prestigious National Lifesaving Academy Award. Lessons take place across West Sussex, including dry-side and pool training at Pavilions in the Park in Horsham, open water training at Southwater Lake, and beach training at Littlehampton.

Current chairman of Horsham Life Saving Club, Lee Wright, commented:

“In the face of escalating drowning incidents, it is our responsibility as a community-driven and purely voluntary-led organisation to take proactive measures that extend beyond mere acknowledgement of the issue.

“I believe that every child and young adult should have access to life-saving education, ensuring that they possess the confidence and competence to act swiftly and decisively in critical situations – it’s essential for preventing these heart-wrenching and entirely avoidable accidents, and it’s why Horsham Life Saving Club exists. Through our comprehensive training programmes, we aim to develop a generation of individuals who not only understand the potential dangers of water but are also equipped with the skills to navigate and mitigate those risks effectively. I hope this video makes people take a moment and consider joining us for training.”

For more information or to sign up for Horsham Life Saving Club, visit www.horshamlifesavingclub.co.uk.