Stay safe this summer

Advice for young people finishing school this term and parent/carers

We know it’s a great time to celebrate the end of exams with friends as the freedom of summer approaches, especially when the sun is out and the weather is warm.

But remember - it’s important to stay safe and be careful if you’re gathering near water. Taking a dip where swimming isn’t safe can be really dangerous, so only swim in designated areas, no matter how tempting it is to cool off.

Remember that alcohol and drugs can alter your perspective, which means you can be at greater risk if you enter the water. Even if the water looks calm on the surface, there could be fast flowing currents and varying depths underneath which could drag you into difficulty and danger - so don’t be tempted to get in, even if it looks like it’s safe.

You can find lots of river safety advice here: Summer Water Safety | Royal Life Saving Society UK

Celebrating end of term

Celebrating the end of school term can be great fun. If you’ve reached the legal age to drink and find yourself at a party with alcohol, there are steps you can take to help keep yourself safe. Take a look at some tips on staying safe from Frank website.

• Alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks or water - being a bit tipsy is more fun than getting blind drunk and throwing up
  
• Avoid mixing drinks or mixing drink with drugs. It’s harder to keep track of what you’re taking and, when you combine things, you can either multiply the harmful effects or add new ones
  
• Alcohol and drugs can alter how you make decisions - you should never feel pressured into doing anything you aren’t comfortable with.
  
• Remember that your tolerance levels could be very different to your friends so take it easy and don’t try to keep up with others
  
• Taking illegal drugs is always risky – you can’t know for sure what’s in them or how strong they are. Some drugs, like ecstasy, can also take over an hour to kick in so taking a whole pill in one go or taking more before you know the effect of what you’ve already taken makes it more likely you’ll have a bad experience
  
• Start with a small amount, e.g. a dab or half a pill. Space out doses and go out your own pace (use a phone timer or take screenshots of the time)
  
• Make sure you and your friends all know what anyone has taken and look after each other
  
• If you or someone you are with becomes unconscious or unresponsive, put them on their side in the recovery position and find immediate medical attention by alerting a steward or member of event staff

What to do in an emergency

• Most people don’t use drugs and even among those that do, emergencies are rare. But no one can be certain how drugs will affect them so there’s always the risk they’ll have a bad time, fall ill, hurt themselves or even worse
  
• If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking, call 999 for an ambulance. Tell the crew everything you know. It could save their life
  
• If you have any drugs left, hand them over to the crew as it may help. In most circumstances they won't tell the police

Risks to be aware of

• You may not always know what someone has taken, especially as drugs often aren’t what dealers say
  
• Dangerous drugs like synthetic opioids, which can cause overdoses, have been found added to some other drugs recently. It’s really important that anyone whose breathing has stopped or slowed gets medical help right away as this could save their life. 
• Feeling pressured to take drugs? Here are 10 ways to deal with it

If you or someone you know are worried about drugs and alcohol, our partners at WithYou can help.  You can find out more here: Support for Young People and Families in Shropshire

For more information about different drugs and alcohol

• Substance Information and Advice Library
• Talk to Frank

Information for Parents/carers

Celebrating end of term

With the end of term approaching and exams nearing completion, many of our young people will be out celebrating in the sunshine with friends.   

We’re advising parents to be aware of how their children plan to celebrate, stressing the dangers of drugs and underage drinking and encourage those who have reached the legal age to drink, to take care and stick to the recommended limits. Particularly if they are gathering near waterways. 

Summer is an amazing time to enjoy our beautiful waterways but we must be mindful that according to RLSS UK's National Drowning Report 2023 warmer weather is directly linked to an increase in fatal drowning incidents.

46% of drownings occur in the summer months and this rises to 75% amongst 13 – 17-year olds.

Rivers and Lakes/Lochs pose the greatest statistical risk as there are often hazards that the average person is equipped to handle and there is a lack of professional supervision.

Drugs and alcohol – having the conversation

Excessive and underage drinking can increase the risk of accidents and antisocial behaviour, as well as other risks such as sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.

Even if a young person is old enough to drink, staying within the safe drinking limits is important, as excessive drinking can have lasting effects on health, such as damage to the liver, heart, brain and stomach. Parents have a role to play, even with their young adults. They should make the first move and talk openly about the dangers of binge drinking.

Do

• Start the conversation and bring up the topic of alcohol. Don’t wait until there’s a problem before you decide to talk.
  
• Take time to listen to what your child has to say.
  
• Respect their views if you want the same in return.
  
• Discuss the risks associated with drugs and alcohol
  
• Discuss possible consequences of their actions and support them to make the right choices.
  

Don’t

• Assume your child doesn’t want to talk. Not talking to your child about alcohol could be interpreted as your approval of them drinking.
  
• Assume they already know everything.
  
• Interrupt or be judgmental, even if you don’t agree with their opinion.
  
• Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people. If 15 to 17 year olds do consume alcohol, they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week. Young people aged 15 to 17 years should never exceed recommended adult daily limits and, on days when they drink, consumption should usually be below such levels*.

There are more helpful tips on talking to your child about drinking. If you’re worried about a child’s drug use, you can find advice here.