Drowning Prevention Week
June 13 - June 20
About Drowning Prevention Week
Drowning Prevention Week 2026 takes place from Saturday 13 June to Saturday 20 June 2026. The week is the UK and Ireland’s largest summer water safety campaign, led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). It is timed to land just before the school summer holidays, when more families head to swimming pools, beaches, rivers, and lakes, and when the risk of drowning is at its annual peak.
What is Drowning Prevention Week?
Drowning Prevention Week is a national awareness campaign run by RLSS UK that brings together schools, leisure centres, councils, the emergency services, and water sports communities to share life-saving information about water safety. It focuses on practical, easily remembered messages such as the Water Safety Code, with the aim of preventing accidental drownings and reducing the number of water-related incidents each summer.
When is Drowning Prevention Week?
Drowning Prevention Week 2026 runs from Saturday 13 June to Saturday 20 June 2026. The campaign is held annually in mid to late June, deliberately positioned in the run-up to the school summer holidays so that families and young people receive water safety information at the most relevant time of year.
Why Drowning Prevention Week Matters
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the UK and Ireland. According to the National Water Safety Forum’s WAID (Water Incident Database), an average of around 270 people die each year from accidental drowning in the UK, with summer months and inland waters such as rivers, quarries, and reservoirs particularly dangerous. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that drowning kills around 300,000 people each year, making it one of the largest causes of unintentional injury death worldwide. The vast majority of incidents are preventable with basic knowledge of water safety, which is why a dedicated awareness week matters.
How to Get Involved in Drowning Prevention Week
RLSS UK provides free downloadable resources, social media graphics, and lesson plans for schools and leisure centres. Try one or several of the following:
- Learn and share the Water Safety Code – The four simple steps are: Stop and Think, Stay Together, Float, and Call. These are designed to be remembered in a moment of crisis.
- Practise floating – The Float to Live technique can save lives in cold water. Lean back, spread arms and legs, and let your face stay above water until the cold water shock subsides, then call for help or swim to safety.
- Book a swimming lesson – Use the week as a prompt to enrol your children in lessons or to refresh your own swimming. National statistics consistently show that swimming ability significantly reduces drowning risk.
- Talk to teenagers about open water – Adolescents and young men are statistically the highest-risk group. Have a non-judgemental conversation about cold water shock, alcohol, and the dangers of jumping into rivers and quarries.
- Run a school assembly – Download the free RLSS UK lesson packs and use them in primary or secondary schools during the week.
- Volunteer with a lifesaving club – RLSS UK has hundreds of clubs across the country teaching lifesaving to children and adults. Many welcome volunteers during DPW.
- Donate to RLSS UK – Donations fund water safety education, lifesaving training, and campaign delivery. Even small contributions help reach more people.
- Check your home water safety – For families with young children, the campaign is a reminder to lock pool gates, drain paddling pools, and never leave a child unsupervised near water, including baths.
History of Drowning Prevention Week
The Royal Life Saving Society was founded in 1891 to promote lifesaving and water safety, becoming the world’s first organisation of its kind. RLSS UK launched Drowning Prevention Week in its current form in the early 2000s as a focused summer campaign, building on decades of public education work and the National Water Safety Forum’s drowning prevention strategy.
The week has grown to become the leading water safety campaign in the UK and Ireland. Each year RLSS UK partners with leisure operators, fire and rescue services, the RNLI, schools, and councils to deliver a coordinated push of public awareness materials, school assemblies, and community events. The campaign is supported by ambassadors including Olympic swimmers, surf lifesavers, and survivors of water-related incidents.
In recent years the campaign has aligned its messaging with the National Water Safety Forum’s Respect the Water campaign and the United Kingdom Drowning Prevention Strategy, which targets a 50 percent reduction in accidental drowning deaths by 2026.
Noteworthy Facts About Drowning Prevention Week
- Drowning Prevention Week is led by RLSS UK, the UK’s leading water safety charity, founded in 1891.
- An average of around 270 people die from accidental drowning in the UK each year, with rivers and inland waters the highest-risk locations.
- The Water Safety Code teaches four simple steps: Stop and Think, Stay Together, Float, and Call.
- Globally, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death, claiming around 300,000 lives a year according to the WHO.
- The Float to Live technique is endorsed by RLSS UK, the RNLI, and the National Water Safety Forum as the recommended response if you fall unexpectedly into cold water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drowning Prevention Week?
Drowning Prevention Week is the UK and Ireland’s largest summer water safety campaign, run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to share practical advice that prevents accidental drowning.
When is Drowning Prevention Week in 2026?
Drowning Prevention Week 2026 runs from Saturday 13 June to Saturday 20 June 2026.
What is the Water Safety Code?
The Water Safety Code is RLSS UK’s four-step guide for staying safe in and around water: Stop and Think, Stay Together, Float, and Call. It is designed to be easy to remember at the moment of an incident.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Drowning Prevention Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #DrowningPreventionWeek and #DPW2026 on social media. The more people who know the Water Safety Code, the more lives are saved.
Related Awareness Days
- World Drowning Prevention Day – The UN-recognised global day on 25 July dedicated to drowning prevention.
- Sun Awareness Week – A complementary summer safety campaign covering sun and skin protection.
- UV Safety Awareness Month – July’s awareness month focused on safe time outdoors during the summer.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
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