Could lessons in risk help? Every year — usually in hot weather — teenagers drown in Britain’s waterways. Experts say that the time has come to take action.
The hidden epidemic killing teenage boys
Could lessons in risk help? Every year - usually in hot weather - teenagers drown in Britain's waterways. Experts say that the time has come to take action.
The emergency call came at 7pm on Sunday. A 14-year-old boy, Daniel Halliday, had gone missing while swimming at a beach in LancashireA county or region in north west England. . For 15 hours rescue services searched the area. Finally, at 10am on Monday, they gave up.
Last year 28 people aged between 10 and 19 drowned in Britain. Of those, 22 were boys.
"Open water may look safe and inviting especially on a hot day," says David Diggins of the DerbyshireA county in the East Midlands of England. Fire and Rescue Service. "But it can be very dangerous due to very cold water temperatures, hidden currents, fast-flowing water, hidden rocks, rubbish or debrisThe remains of something that has been destroyed. It comes from the French word "debriser" (to break up). When the Chinese destroyed one of their own weather satellites, it produced an estimated 150,000 pieces of debris., and water pollution that could make you extremely ill."
If the temperature of the water is below 15C it can make your heart pump more quickly - particularly if you are hot when you go in. This leaves you gasping for breath, and more likely to swallow water.
The part of a teenager's brain that thinks about an action's consequencesThe result of an action. is very slow to develop. But, says the BBC's David Robson: "Parents can encourage the use of critical thinking... schools can also help children and young people learn to make better decisions."
In May the UK's Department of Education recommended that all pupils "should know how to recognise risk and keep safe around water". Lessons in this are likely to become compulsoryNot optional. by the end of the year.
Could lessons in risk help?
Yes! You can teach people to think about what could happen when they take certain actions. You can learn not to get overwhelmed by the idea of an exciting moment and stop to think.
No! Some people naturally take more risks than others. Jumping into a river or lake is something they do because it looks fun, and no lesson on risk will make them stop to think about it.
Lancashire - A county or region in north west England.
Derbyshire - A county in the East Midlands of England.
Debris - The remains of something that has been destroyed. It comes from the French word "debriser" (to break up). When the Chinese destroyed one of their own weather satellites, it produced an estimated 150,000 pieces of debris.
Consequences - The result of an action.
Compulsory - Not optional.
The hidden epidemic killing teenage boys

Glossary
Lancashire - A county or region in north west England.
Derbyshire - A county in the East Midlands of England.
Debris - The remains of something that has been destroyed. It comes from the French word "debriser" (to break up). When the Chinese destroyed one of their own weather satellites, it produced an estimated 150,000 pieces of debris.
Consequences - The result of an action.
Compulsory - Not optional.