Safeguarding: Summer Safety

Water Safety

The summer season is synonymous with trips to the beach, pool parties, and water-based adventures. While these activities offer opportunities for fun and excitement, water safety must remain a top priority, especially given the tragic stories in the local news in recent weeks in Tameside. Here are some key points to remember:

1. Learn to swim: Encourage everyone to take swimming lessons and ensure they are confident swimmers before engaging in water activities.
2. Supervision: Never swim alone, especially in natural bodies of water. Always have a responsible adult present to supervise and maintain constant vigilance.
3. Know the conditions: Educate yourself and your children about the potential risks associated with specific water bodies, such as strong currents, sudden drops, or hidden hazards.
Use life jackets: When engaging in water sports or boating, always wear properly fitted and approved life jackets to ensure buoyancy and personal safety.

The Respect the Water website contains more information about keeping safe in the water in various settings.

Sun Safety

While the warm summer sun is inviting, it’s important to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays. Follow these guidelines to stay safe in the sun:

1. Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with a high SPF regularly, especially during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Reapply after swimming or excessive sweating.
2. Seek shade: Take breaks from direct sunlight by seeking shade under trees, umbrellas, or canopies. This will help reduce the risk of sunburn and heat-related illnesses.
3. Protective clothing: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs. Don’t forget to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to shield your face and eyes from the sun.
4. Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, as prolonged sun exposure can lead to dehydration.

Anti-Social Behaviours

While pupils at St Bede’s are a credit to themselves and their families, during the summer holidays, it’s important to maintain respectful and responsible behaviour towards others. With long days to fill and potentially more free time unsupervised in the day, peer pressure can sometimes take over. Here are some points to consider:

1. Respect personal boundaries: Encourage your children to respect the personal space and privacy of others, both in public places and online interactions.
2. Cyberbullying awareness: Raise awareness about the potential risks of cyberbullying and the importance of responsible online behaviour. Promote kindness, empathy, and reporting of any inappropriate or harmful online content.
3. Community engagement: Encourage your children to participate in positive community activities, such as volunteering, organising events, or joining summer programmes. This fosters a sense of belonging and reduces the likelihood of anti-social behavior.
4. Reporting concerns: Remind your children to report any instances of bullying, harassment, or suspicious behaviour to a trusted adult or authority figure.

More tips for parents on anti-social behaviour can be found here.

Online Safety

We’ve enjoyed some lovely weather recently, which has been conducive to being out and about and being able to engage in more outdoor pursuits, but given the unpredictability of the English weather, there may be times when children are forced indoors. Tempting as a good book can be, teenagers are typically more drawn to online games and social media. Parents and teachers tend to be familiar with the big names: Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and perhaps Snapchat, but there are some other apps out there that you should be aware of, such as Omegle. This app allows users to chat to random strangers online. Clearly, people online may not always be who they claim to be. PSMEE lessons have dealt with topics of online safety throughout the year, but parents should ensure they have set up appropriate monitoring settings on their children’s devices.

Here are some tips for children from the Childline website about staying safe online:

1. Think before you post
2. Don’t share personal details
3. Watch out for phishing and scams
4. Think about who you’re talking to
5. Keep your device secure
6. Never give out your password
7. Cover your webcam

Wishing you all a very happy, safe and memorable summer holiday.

Mrs C Boylan. Assistant Head (Safeguarding & Ethos) & Mr F Calmaestra. Assistant Head – Strategy and Innovation