Saqib Bhatti, Member of Parliament for Meriden, has written to the Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb, to call for revised curriculum guidelines to highlight the importance of water safety and understanding the implications of cold-water shock.
This follows on from a meeting with the Minister in which Saqib highlighted the case of the Babbs Mill Lake tragedy that struck the Kingshurst Community. Four young boys sadly died at Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst on 11 December. Following the tragedy, Saqib has spoken in Parliament around the need for highlighting the importance of water safety and the particular implications of cold-water shock on the body.
With the National Water Safety Forum stating that drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the UK, with approximately 400 lives lost annually, Saqib is calling on the Government to include improved water safety education in the upcoming Department of Education review into Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum.
Speaking on the need for revised guidelines, Saqib said:
“Last December we saw our community devastated by the tragedy at Babbs Mill Lake. The heroic efforts of public bystanders and emergency services, who selflessly risked their own safety by plunging into the freezing water in an attempt to rescue the boys, stand as a testament to our community's courage. The Kingshurst community exemplified unity and shared compassion. I pay tribute to them all.”
“The tragedy compels us all to reflect on how better we can safeguard and educate our children on the importance of water safety, particularly on cold-water shock. This is why I am calling on the Department of Education to include improving water safety in their upcoming review of Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum guidelines. By incorporating such vital knowledge in our schools, we can ensure that our children are equipped to make safe decisions and protect themselves.”
