RLSS UK is a Charity and the Governing Body for Lifesaving Sport and Lead Industry Body for training Lifeguards, setting standards and providing guidance and advice on aquatic safety.
The Royal Life Saving Society was formed in 1891 in an attempt to reduce the annual toll of 5,000 lives lost in drowning accidents in the UK – by publicising the causes of these accidents, by encouraging everyone to learn to swim and by teaching competent swimmers the methods by which a drowning person might be saved. In 1924, the Society was granted a Royal Charter by King George V; a supplemental Charter was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1959.
The Royal Life Saving Society, Commonwealth is active in over 40 countries worldwide. The Society’s Commonwealth Conference is held every four years and is attended by representatives from around the world. Special events and development workshops are held regularly on every continent organised by the Society’s volunteer and professional officers.
The Society has major branches in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. In addition, lifesaving activities are particularly strong in the Far East, India and Africa. Member Branches and Honorary Representatives keep in touch with developments worldwide through the RLSS Commonwealth Secretariat.
Today RLSS is the largest single organisation dedicated to teaching of lifesaving and the prevention of drowning in the United Kingdom and is one of the largest in Europe.
To meet the organisations’ lifesaving objectives the Society’s members spend considerable time:
- Promoting water safety education and life support in the community.
- Training lifesavers and lifeguards in the areas of accident prevention, survival, rescue, life support, emergency aftercare and first aid.
- Researching the causes and effects of drowning.
- Developing educational resources and technical expertise.
Beware of the dangers of open water
With a spate of drownings this summer, RLSS UK’s mission “to safeguard lives in, on and near water” is as prevalent as ever. The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) issued a high alert after nine people drowned in 10 days in July. The hot weather we’ve been enjoying encouraged people to venture into rivers, quarries and open bodies of water – some suffering dire consequences as a result.
RLSS UK Chief Executive, Di Standley said: “Any drowning is a tragedy but the number of people who have lost their lives this month [July] is not only extremely sad but extremely worrying. We want people to listen to our high alert and take on board the safety messages we are issuing – advice that could mean the difference between life and death.”
And if the hot weather is set to continue and we enjoy an Indian summer, she added: “Do not be tempted to cool off in open water, unless it is a supervised area intended for swimming, or an organised event. We want people to enjoy water, but safely and sensibly – using their common sense and listening to advice. Please don’t become a statistic.”
Another recent drowning, which occurred on 28 August, saw a 12-year-old boy, Andrew Collings drown in the River Cam. He’d been playing in a stretch of the river that’s popular with youngsters who head there to jump off the bridge and dive bomb punts below.
There are about 260 accidental drowning deaths in inland waters in Britain each year – about 60 per cent of the total number of accidental water deaths.
For advice on how to be safe in and around water, click here.
