The Water Safety Code

The Water Safety Code is the fundamental spine of all water safety education.

It is designed to provide simple and easy to remember information that acts both as a proactive measure to help people to educate everyone across the UK and Ireland to make early, critical decisions and also to help people to understand what they should do in emergency action.

Our Water Safety Code is now also available in multiple languages.

Please help us share this crucial code

Download our Water Safety Code Animation

Latest

Private Landowners - Consultancy Service

Impartial and practical water safety advice for private landowners with open water - ponds, lakes, streams, reservoirs, etc. and public access (such as bridleways or byways).
National Inclusion Week - Webinar with Matthew Mitcham

RLSS UK is delighted to invite all members and staff to a live webinar with motivational speaker and Australian Olympic diving gold medallist, Matthew Mitcham O.A.M.
1891 - when and where is this challenge?
1891 - is there an entry fee?

Advice to enjoy being in, on and around water safely

RLSS UK aims to ensure that everyone has the know-how to stay safe whether they are spending time in, on or around water.
Drowning Prevention Week Animations

Our two animations are the perfect way to talk to kids about water safety.
Celebrating a decade of DPW

2023 marked our tenth year of Drowning Prevention Week, so as we enter our second decade, we’d love to celebrate and showcase your support from the last 10 years…
Hear from families

Hear from people who have lost someone to drowning and have shared their tragic experiences.
Donate to our DPW Appeal

If you can, please donate. Your generosity will help future generations to enjoy water safely.
Summer holidays may be booked but are you hot on water safety?

We want to help families enjoy water safely and with our summer water safety information. We truly believe that people can then be equipped with the right knowledge, and as a result we won’t need to see the fatalities we currently do from accidental drownings.
Summer Water Safety

Warmer weather is directly linked to an increase in fatal drowning incidents.
From Down Under to the UK – Lifeguard Maxi spreads water safety message with RLSS UK

TV star ‘Lifeguard Maxi’ will swap Australia’s world-famous Bondi Beach for the waters of the UK and Ireland on a tour to spread the message about water safety.
Water Safety Educational Resources

Water safety educational resources for parents and schools.
Drowning Prevention Week Resources for Leisure Centres

Water safety educational resources for leisure centres and swimming clubs.

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)

The Royal Life Saving Society UK's (RLSS UK) National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). The UK’s most popular Pool Lifeguard Training and Certification with courses across the UK and Ireland.
Your RLSS UK Account (powered by tahdah)

Find out how to log in to your RLSS UK Account (powered by tahdah), view our how-to guides, and all the latest FAQs.
Find a Course (RLSS UK Course Finder)

Looking to find a course? This page will direct you to where you need to go.
RLSS UK Qualifications and Awards
National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ)

The National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) is the core qualification for anyone seeking employment on UK Beaches. The NVBLQ ensures that the qualified lifeguard has the knowledge and skills required to operate effectively across a range of beach environments.
Cold Water Shock – the Facts

Cold water can be from the temperature of a swimming pool and below.
National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC)

NRASTC is a supervision and rescue qualification for teachers working on the poolside or in the water during programmed activities, such as a swimming lesson.
The stages of the Rookie Lifeguard programme

Rookie Lifeguards can receive a certificate, badge and sticker to mark their progress in their own progress book.
Winter Water Safety

Children are at risk when playing on ice and adults are at risk attempting to save them.
Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools

This information supports the HSE document ‘Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools’ 2018 edition.

The Water Safety Code is the fundamental spine of all water safety education.

RLSS UK's Water Safety Code Poster - with characters

RLSS UK's Water Safety Code Poster - without characters

RLSS UK's Summer Water Safety Code Poster

RLSS UK's Winter Water Safety Code Poster