John Hunt Primary School, Balderton, pupils benefit from water safety session with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire Police, and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

More than 50 year five pupils have taken part in educational sessions dedicated to water safety.

On Tuesday, September 25, Newark and Sherwood District Council joined together with Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to host the sessions for the pupils at John Hunt Primary School, Balderton.

The event was part of a series which started back in June 2019, to educate people across the district on the importance of safe behaviour around lakes, rivers and canals, as well as linking in with ongoing improvements and initiatives in the community as part of Safer Streets Five.

Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for public protection and community relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s vital that we do what we can to ensure young people are well informed about the dangers of water and the risk it can be to life. These sessions are a great way to really get that message across in an interactive way that the pupils can enjoy as they learn.

“Our partnership work with Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has been strong and we’ve worked together to launch a number of activities and initiatives over the past year to create a safer Newark and Sherwood.”

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden added: "Ensuring the safety of our young people around water is a crucial responsibility, especially in communities like Balderton where open water areas can pose serious risks.

“This collaborative event with our partners has provided vital, hands-on education, helping students understand the potential dangers and equipping them with the knowledge to stay safe.

“By engaging with local schools and delivering these interactive sessions, we are fostering a culture of safety and awareness that will have long-term benefits for the entire community."

Activities and talks during the safety sessions were run Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Nottinghamshire Police, and included a police question and answer session and a presentation on water and fire safety by the fire and rescue service.

Pupils were also shown how firefighters wear their protective gear and breathing apparatus, given a tour of a fire engine, tried using a throwline, and had the chance to explore a police riot van, handle riot shields and helmets, and even sit in the holding cell.

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood said: “Educational days like this are so vital for us and our partners to really send out a strong message about water safety and the tragic consequences that could arise for anyone of any age.

“Speaking to children who could potentially be likely to go to rivers, lakes, and canals is so important for us and our partners to reiterate safety messages and start a discussion about the correct behaviour when you’re close to open water.

“It was great for officers to get to interact with children from the school and I hope they went away from the talk full of advice and how to keep themselves safe around water.”

Keil Fraser, watch manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “It is imperative that we ensure that young people are safe in and around water. It may seem inviting and fun, especially in the summer, but sadly not many people are aware of the dangers.

“Having the opportunity to be able to deliver events like this means we can raise awareness to prevent future incidents from happening.

“We will continue to work with Newark and Sherwood District Council and Nottinghamshire Police to deliver more sessions, including a session on fire safety.”

Hi-vis safety packs and safety booklets — created by the emergency services and district council and now used as a national educational resource across the country — were handed out for further home learning, and district council officers also provided learning materials about the council’s Motion for the Ocean scheme and Balderton Lake nature facts for teachers to use in their classrooms.

Open water is cold, often much deeper than people think, and may contain hidden debris which can result in injuries and even drowning, and pollution in rivers, canals and lakes can lead to illness.