With children about to start their summer holidays and hopefully temperatures rising throughout August, being safe around water is vital. The Partnership’s members which includes Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Nottinghamshire Police, The Royal Life Saving Society and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, wants to stress that being water aware whether in or adjacent to water is essential. Also attending the event will be Nicola Jenkins, who tragically lost her 12-year-old son Owen in July 2017 when he valiantly rescued two girls who got into difficulties at Beeston Weir.

He managed to get them to safety, but he lost his footing and was sucked under the water. In his memory, Nicola set up OWEN – the Open Water Education Network – to educate people about being safe around water and to prevent further tragic loss of lives. Coun Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, will welcome partners to the 3 hour event, along with the Canal and River Trust, the county council’s schools swimming team and flood risk management team, Via East Midlands Flood Management team and Year 6 pupils from schools around Rushcliffe.

Coun Cutts said: “It is so important that we get water safety messages across to children and young people especially at this time of the year.
“Being aware of what to do if you see someone in trouble in the water can save a life so surely there’s no better incentive.

“Water safety awareness also needs to be promoted to adults and being able to swim must be a key message for everyone, regardless of how old you are.” The Underwater Search Team from Nottinghamshire Police will conduct a training dive to show people how they rescue someone in trouble and the RNLI will discuss cold water shock and ways to respect the water.
Speedo, a member of the Water Safety Partnership, will provide prizes for competitions taking place during the 3-hour event.