Leisure Safety Department
Frequently Asked Questions - Water Safety
The following topics are taken from analysis of our enquiries as to the most commonly asked topics on water safety. If you do not find what you are looking for or think that there is an important FAQ missing from this page please contact us online or on 0121 248 2000.
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Where can I get a grill for my garden pond?
Garden ponds can present a drowning hazard to toddlers. RoSPA recommends that parents fill them in until their children are older than the age of 6. Grill covers can be obtained if filling in is not an option. We are aware of a couple of companies that provide this service, but we do not endorse either the companies or their products. To obtain the details of these companies please contact us. The only design that we agree with is one that will not allow a child to have any contact with the water once the grill is in place. Designs that have the grill below or equal to the water level do not fully remove the water hazard. Further information is available at the following links: Pond and Garden Water Safety and NWSF Garden Pond Safety.
Is there any legislation about domestic swimming pool safety?
There is no legislation that relates to the fencing of domestic swimming pools. Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (HSG179) provides guidance for commercial swimming pools, and this can also be used for domestic swimming pools. RoSPA recommends that swimming pools are fenced around to ensure that young children who escape supervision cannot gain access to the water. Read further information on domestic swimming pools.
Can a swimming pool cover keep my child safe from drowning?
RoSPA does not hold a list of preferred brands for swimming pool covers. Swimming pool covers are not safety devices – they are for keeping debris out of the swimming pool. Soft swimming pool covers can be a hazard if a person slips under them and the cover then pulls the sides in – they could be a potential death trap. If children are in the vicinity, the key to swimming pool safety is supervision. Never rely on a swimming pool cover to prevent a drowning. For further information about the safety of domestic swimming pools visit the National Water Safety Forum website.
How many lifeguards should be at a swimming pool?
The number swimming pool lifeguards at public swimming pools is based on a risk assessment that should be undertaken by the pool operator. Factors that are taken into account include the nature of the pool, (including pool design depth and water quality), pool users, and activities in the pool at any one time. The management of swimming pools, including supervision is included in guidance produced by the HSE ‘Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools’ (HSG179).
Where can I find out more information about child admission policies?
The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) have guidance on this and many pool managers will use this guidance. Some parents have found the standard ratio of adults to children advised by the ISRM and used by pool managers, to be restrictive. The guidance issued by ISRM does allow for flexibility based on the risk present at individual pools so it is worth discussing this with your local pool. Find out if they offer, or are willing to offer, toddler sessions with a higher staff level.
Also, many pools operate a changing-room policy, find out what this is before you go so that you can ensure it is not going to cause you difficulties with supervision of children of different ages and sexes. The ISRM offers guidance about this in relation to changing for school groups, which may assist.
How can I take children to a swimming pool safely?
Plan your trip to the swimming pool taking into account how many children you have to supervise and the ability of the children in the water. Be aware of the nature of the swimming pool, for example where it is deep, and when it will be very busy. Before you go, check if the swimming pool has a child admission policy. Further advice can be found in our Taking Children Swimming Information Sheet.
How can we keep our children safe around swimming pools while on holiday?
The key for keeping young children safe around swimming pools both in the UK and abroad, is parental supervision and awareness of the dangers posed by holiday swimming pools. Please read our Child Holiday Swimming Pool Safety Fact Sheet for advice and information.
How can I tell which watersports operators at my holiday destination are safe?
There are a number of safety aspects that you can look out for in a watersports operator when you go on holiday. Find this information in our Watersports Safety Abroad Fact Sheet.
How many people have drowned in the UK?
The latest statistics available are for 2005. These are not broken down in the same way as we have previously presented them (for example, 2002). This is due to a change in the way we collect them. For 2005 the number of suspected accidental drowning fatalities was 435, of which 39 were children aged 0-14.
What free water safety resources are available?
There are various resources freely available online including water and leisure information sheets and R U A Dummy 2? - an educational resource aimed at young people ages 12-16. You can find these and further resources on the RoSPA Leisure education resources web page. Water safety pages specifically aimed at children and young people can be found here.
Can I use information from the RoSPA Leisure website in my presentation?
Information available on our website including R U A Dummy2? and the information sheets, may be used in projects and in presentations provided it is referenced and acknowledged correctly. If you have questions regarding this please contact us.
I own land with an area of water on it, what are my responsibilities?
Owners and operators of inland water sites have a responsibility to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of both employees and visitors to their site. How far owners and operators have to go to discharge this duty is not always easy to ascertain and the interpretation of the relevant health and safety laws may require some expert advice. You should always check with your insurers and ascertain any requirements that they may insist upon under the terms of your cover, discuss issues with them. RoSPA provides consultancy services and training courses to assist landowners and operators to discharge their duty. Other information can be found on the NWSF website.
What public rescue equipment should I use at my site and where should I place it?
The effectiveness of public rescue equipment is dependent on a number of factors and circumstances. It must be part of a whole strategy for drowning prevention, and is not a solution in itself. For PRE to be useful the following must occur:
- the victim has to be seen
- they must be recognised as being in difficulty
- they must remain afloat until rescue arrives
- appropriate rescue equipment must be to hand, and in operational condition
- the rescuer must have the ability, judgement and skill to use the equipment, and to effect a rescue
- the weather conditions must be favourable
- the victim must be able to co-operate, i.e. grasp a rescue device
An assessment of the area and its users should provide the basis for the use of PRE at any given site.
At what intervals should I place life rings around a water hazard?
You should only decide to install public rescue equipment after you have conducted a risk assessment. Rescue equipment should play only a minor role in a water safety strategy, with greater emphasis on prevention. However once you have decided to install lifebuoys it should be:
- Clearly positioned and in colours of red or yellow
- At a maximum height of 1.7m above the ground
- Regularly inspected and replaced where necessary
Placing and spacing will depend on the identified risk, look for the places where people congregate or where people are likely to fall in. Generally spacing of equipment at 100 metres is acceptable under normal conditions, so that a potential rescuer is not more than 50 metres from the equipment.
What signs can I use to warn people of the dangers around water?
A new Standard for National Water Safety Signs was developed in 2002 and RoSPA advises those who are producing new signs to use the guidance in this standard. BS5499:2002 Part 11 Water Safety Signs provides technical details of prohibition, hazard, mandatory and information water safety signs. The Standard can be purchased from BSI-Online or may be able to be viewed at your local lending library.
What can I do at my site to reduce the risk of accidents occurring on ice during the winter months?
You must have a fully developed strategy for winter water safety and staff should have and understand the normal operating procedures and emergency action plans. Operators need to know where the public go onto the ice and when these bodies of water freeze over and have covered this in their risk assessments. For further advice please read our Ice Safety Fact Sheet.
Which type of buoyancy aid is best for the activity I manage?
There are different types of buoyancy aids that are best suited depending on the different activities taking place. Read the NWSF Buoyancy Aid Information Sheet, and see the HSE Information Sheet (PDF Format) and HSE details of Standards for buoyancy and immersion equipment.
Contact the Leisure Safety Department by telephone on 0121 248 2000 or fill out a contact form.
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RoSPA is a registered charity: Registered Charity No: 207823 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen RoSPA Head Office: Edgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7ST, UK |
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