A NATIONALLY acclaimed campaign to make young people aware of the dangers of cold water shock has been taken up by a prestigious national body.

The Safe Durham Partnership’s (SDP) Dying to be Cool campaign, created and led by Durham County Council, seeks to educate ten to 16-year-olds on the potentially fatal risks of jumping into rivers, lakes and streams without acclimatising.

It recently helped the council win a national MJ Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Engagement. And now the Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on the Government to make the topic compulsory.

The association, which represents councils across England and Wales, is asking for youngsters to be taught the dangers in swimming lessons organised by their schools, or in their personal, social, health and economic lessons.

Fiona Gosling, whose 14-year-old son Cameron died from cold water shock in 2015, has supported the campaign from the outset.

Mrs Gosling, from Crook, also runs Campaigning for Cam which seeks to have water safety added to the national school’s curriculum.

She said: “I’m so pleased that all the work we’ve been doing to raise awareness of cold water shock has contributed to the LGA taking it up.

“Teaching children about cold water shock in schools is something I’ve been calling for since Cameron died and it’s great the LGA is now pushing for this.

“I will continue to take every opportunity to make young people aware of the dangers to try and prevent other families having to experience the heartache which will always be part of our lives.”

To find out more about cold water shock and the campaign, visit www.durham.gov.uk/dyingtobecool