Written question WQ99456
- Asked by
- Dan ThomasReform
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to more flexible opening hours for public swimming pools during heatwaves?
Answer
Answered by Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health (Nerys Evans)
Public swimming pools are a safe option for cooling off during heatwaves, opening times are a matter for individual Local Authorities to determine.
One of the commitments in our 100 day plan is to ‘begin the rollout of preventative health programmes such as our new national School Swimming and Water Safety programme in Welsh schools'. The supplementary budget includes £2million funding towards the school swimming rollout.
We are also raising awareness of water safety during hot weather when it may be tempting to cool off in lakes or rivers, but cold-water shock is a real danger when jumping in. Entering the water slowly reduces the risk of cold-water shock and the advice is never to swim in a reservoir. Remembering #FloatToLive advice can be lifesaving.