Staying Safe Out of School
Water Safety
When you are out and about around Greater Manchester's waterways you can stay safe by:
- Never jumping into or swimming in open water (including reservoirs, rivers, canals and ponds). Cold Water Shock can kill in 60 seconds, you never know what's lurking beneath the surface, and under-water currents can be deadly.
- Letting someone know where you are going and when you are coming back, if possible
- Taking any warning or safety signs seriously
- Looking out for hazards around water and sticking to proper pathways
- Never entering the water to rescue your dog - who will rescue you?
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have website dedicated to the issue which can be found here: https://www.manchesterfire.gov.uk/your-safety/water-safety/
Never swim in a canal, river, dam or lake - you never know how deep the water can be.
- If you fall into water, fight your instinct to thrash around
- Lean back, extend your arms and legs
- If you need to, gently move them around to help you float
- Float until you can control your breathing
More information on winter water safety can be found on the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) website.
Going Out
If you are going out, make sure you stay safe and tell someone where you are going.
- Be careful if you're on a bike
- Keep your phone with you at all times
- Don't take anything off someone you don't know
- Don't meet up with or go anywhere with strangers
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Visit our Mental Health and Wellbeing page for useful wellbeing links.