Drowning death numbers in Scotland 'worryingly high' as fewer kids learning to swim amid pool closures

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The number of drowning deaths in Scotland remains "worryingly high" at a time fewer children are leaning to swim, the SNP Government has been warned.Scottish Swimming is calling for greater investment in school lessons in 2025 in a bid to reduce the number of people who put themselves at risk each time they enter water.Rising numbers of children cannot swim confidently as cash-strapped councils are forced to close pools or slash leisure centre opening times.It means that school swimming is now the only experience some children gain in water.The Record previously revealed how swimming star Hannah Miley is backing a campaign for the SNP Government to invest £6m to fund the roll-out of a nationwide programme of lessons in schools.A successful pilot project across nine council areas offered all pupils in primary five the opportunity to learn basic swimming skills and gain essential water safety knowledge.Euan Lowe, Scottish Swimming chief executive, said: "One drowning is one too many.

In Scotland the drowning statistics are still worryingly high."In 2023 there were 94 water-related fatalities in Scotland and the accidental drowning rate is nine drownings per million people - more than double the UK rate.

Our unique geography - with 30,000 inland waters and 11,800km of coastline - means danger is never far away."Our vision at Scottish Swimming is ‘everyone can swim’.

Through school swimming we can ensure that all children have fair and equal access to vital water safety skills and education to keep them safer in, on and around water."For many children school swimming is the only experience they gain in water.