Paddlers and swimmers urged to stay safe during warm weather

Merseyside Police are reminding people of the importance of staying safe around open water during the fine weather. Two young children had to be rescued by an adult at Crosby Marina in Sefton yesterday after getting into difficulty while paddling. The boy and the girl were taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital as a precaution. They were kept in overnight for observations. The circumstances of how they came to be in trouble in the water is being investigated by the police. Chief Superintendent Claire Richards from the Sefton command team, said: "More than 400 people drown each year and around 60 per cent of victims are children. Yet many of these tragedies could have been prevented if some simple precautions had been taken. "The Royal Life Saving Society UK offers some really important advice to people looking to enjoy a swim or a paddle at one of Merseyside's many beaches, lakes or pools this summer. "It is really simple stuff like keeping an eye on your children at all times and closely supervising them when they are playing near or in water, educating yourself about the local safety advice before you go for a swim or a paddle, and only do so in designated areas. "It is possible to drown in just a few inches of water and we need to respect that fact and be mindful of the precautions we should all take before we can enjoy ourselves." For more information visit http://www.rlss.org.uk/water-safety/water-safety/