Joint NHS and council push aims to cut drowning risk
Council and health leaders across County Durham have this week launched a public safety drive offering free swimming lessons to under‑18s at most local pools and urging families to treat even small amounts of water with caution. The campaign, timed to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday 25 July, brings together the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust (CDDFT), Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council.
The initiative is being promoted under the banner of "small steps for safety", with a short jointly produced video stressing the importance of close supervision and simple household precautions to reduce the risk of drowning among young children.
Free lessons, safety messages and local examples
Leisure centres across County Durham (with the exception of Spennymoor Leisure Centre) will provide the free sessions for under‑18s as part of the campaign. The aim is to combine practical help — giving youngsters access to lessons — with public information about everyday risks such as baths, paddling pools and open water.
- Who: County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust, Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council
- What: Free swimming lessons for under‑18s at County Durham leisure centres (except Spennymoor)
- When: Campaign launched ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day, Saturday 25 July
Public health figures emphasised that even small amounts of water can present a danger to babies and young children. Victoria Cooling, Consultant in Public Health at CDDFT, said the message was simple: stay with children at bath time, empty paddling pools after use and never leave children alone near water.
"Simple actions can make a huge difference. Stay with children at bath time, empty paddling pools after use and never leave children alone near water." — Victoria Cooling, CDDFT
Regional context: open water and ambulance service warnings
The campaign follows other local efforts earlier in the year to highlight the dangers of open water after an unusually warm spring. The Chronicle supported a separate safety drive backed by former Olympic swimmer Tom Dean, which urged people to be cautious when swimming in rivers, lakes and the coast.
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has also been running a summer safety drive focusing on open‑water incidents, and in Darlington one council staff member has been sharing a near‑drowning experience in school assemblies as part of efforts to make the risk more real to young people.
| Partner | Action |
|---|---|
| CDDFT | Co‑produced video, public health messaging |
| Durham County Council | Free lessons at most leisure centres |
| Darlington Borough Council | Local campaigns and school assembly testimony |
Practical steps for families
The campaign focuses on simple, everyday precautions rather than complex measures. Public health advice being promoted locally includes:
- Supervising children closely around any water — including baths and paddling pools.
- Emptying small pools immediately after use.
- Avoiding leaving children alone near water, however shallow.
- Considering free lessons as a practical way to improve children's confidence and ability in water.
For many families across County Durham the combination of tuition and clear, relatable warnings is intended to reduce tragic, preventable incidents over the summer months. The coordinated approach also reflects wider regional concern about open‑water safety after a period of high temperatures earlier in the year.
Leisure centres and partner organisations will be publicising session times and booking arrangements locally; parents and carers are encouraged to check with their nearest pool for availability and any eligibility criteria for the free lessons.
This campaign reinforces a straightforward point: small, consistent actions in homes and communities can make a sizable difference to child safety in and around water.
