Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
15 July 2016 09:39
Family holidays can be safe in and around water
Britons on holidays abroad are being advised how to enjoy safe swimming this summer.
ABTA's new five-point plan aims to reduce the dangers that surround foreign pools and seas.
The travel group's guidelines come before millions of UK families are due to jet out overseas for their annual getaway.
Safety first
Swimming pools are not the only place where a safety-first policy pays dividends on holiday.
Taking out trusted travel insurance also helps to reduce risks.
This cover protects holidaymakers should their flight be delayed or cancelled.
It can also reimburse them should they have their luggage and possessions stolen, or passports and other travel papers mislaid.
Safe swimming
ABTA recommends the following steps for holiday swimming...
Before you go: The organisation says that preparation is key. This means getting used to swimming again before tourists leave - perhaps at their local swimming baths. Parents are also advised to get their children used to the water while keeping an eye on them throughout.
Get familiar with new surroundings: Tourists should acquaint themselves with pool layouts, beach warning signs and flags, and the location of dangerous currents. Knowing the pool's design will prevent holidaymakers from unknowingly jumping in at the deep end. Rocks, reefs, sudden alterations in depth and other potential underwater hazards should also be inquired about. ABTA also advises against jumping off poolside chairs and tables, piers and rocks.
Keep vigilant: People should always swim with others and supervise the children in their group at all times, handing out armbands as an additional precaution. ABTA recommends that Britons should only swim during the daytime and never after imbibing alcohol.
Follow safety rules: Hoteliers, holiday reps and locals will be best placed to advise travellers about their beaches and pools. Holiday-goers should also learn any flag warning systems and pool rules before they swim. Prohibited swimming zones should be avoided at all costs.
Knowing limitations: It's no good Britons thinking they are Rebecca Adlington if they have just passed their 20-metres certificate. If people think they need lessons, then they should not be too proud to get some before flying out. Remember that open water, even in a swimming pool, can be much colder and more difficult than indoor heated pools. Even stronger swimmers find they cannot swim as far in cold water as they can in the warm.
12 October 2018
The rising cost of fuel could force more airlines out of business, the boss of easyJet has warned.
[more...]
11 October 2018
The image of the boozy backpacker might be a thing of the past as a new study suggests more and more youngsters are shunning alcohol completely.
10 October 2018
The NHS says just one in 10 drinks sold in English hospitals will be sugar-sweetened, as part of its bid to curb rising obesity levels.
09 October 2018
More than 260,000 diabetes patients were put at risk of lasting harm or even death during hospital stays last year due to medication errors, a new report has revealed.
06 October 2018
NHS patients with a specific type of lymphoma will soon be able to access a "game-changing" new treatment, health officials have revealed.
05 October 2018
People living with diabetes are being warned they might be "unwittingly" storing their insulin incorrectly.
04 October 2018
The world's first commercial jet part-powered by a new form of biofuel touches down in London on Wednesday (3rd October).
03 October 2018
New 'hotel-style' carriages that were due to be rolled out for the Caledonian Sleeper have been delayed until next year.
02 October 2018
Budapest has been revealed as the cheapest destination for UK holidaymakers looking for a cultural break, according to a new report.
29 September 2018
Holidaymakers heading off by train will soon be able to check their blood pressure at the station, as part of a new scheme aimed at boosting the number of people getting checked.
28 September 2018
Taking an aspirin every day might not only help keep cancer at bay, it could also play a life-saving role in treatment, new research suggests.
27 September 2018
Holidaymakers heading to Southern Europe for some autumn sun will be pleased to know that a Mediterranean diet could help prevent depression.