Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the World Health Organisation's conclusion that accidental drowning is a preventable public health issue.

In recognition that drowning is a preventable cause of harm in recreational water settings, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as part of wider Government efforts, is helping to raise awareness of heat-health advice through national and local communication channels, particularly during the school summer holiday period. This includes partnering with charities such as the Royal Life Saving Society UK and Water Safety England to share safe swimming messages and practical actions to reduce the risk of drowning.

As part of its Beat the Heat campaign, the UKHSA includes a “stay safe when swimming” section, which provides links to advice from the Royal Life Saving Society UK on cold-water shock. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beat-the-heat-hot-weather-advice/beat-the-heat-staying-safe-in-hot-weather