OKEHAMPTON Otters Swimming and Lifesaving Club will live up to their name tomorrow (Friday) with a session to promote Drowning Prevention Week.

Every year around 400 people needlessly drown in the UK and thousands more suffer injury, some life changing, through near-drowning experiences. This means drowning kills one person every 20 hours in the UK and drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK.

Drowning Prevention Week, the national campaign run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, aims to reduce the number of drowning and near drowning incidents that occur in the UK every year, by showing people how to be safe near water.

Okehampton Otters will welcome children aged seven to 15 years old, who can swim two lengths, to Parklands Leisure Centre for a free one hour session tomorrow at 6pm.

During the session they will learn about water dangers, how to look after themselves and how to help others. The session will involve demonstrations, hands on practice and lots of swimming.  Certificates and badges will awarded to those who take part.

Otters' lifesaving aim is improve swimming ability, know how to survive, learn how to help others and have fun with friends.

There is no need to pre-book a place at the event.