Splash activities

Includes: Cockling, Rock pooling, Stone skimming, Beach art, Sandcastle building, Splash parks, Paddling in the sea, river, or a lake, Paddling pools, Pond dipping, Slip and slides, Outdoors, Water
Age:
4+
Water
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Jump, splash and play!

This guidance is for activities where you are entering water to no more than knee depth.

Overview

Any deeper than knee depth is regarded as swimming, and you must follow the swimming in open water guidance. 

This guidance includes: 

  • Activities where getting wet is foreseen.
  • Activities where you might not plan on going into the water, but you could still get wet. 

Planning checklist

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your commissioner. 
  • Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

We recommend at least 1 adult with up-to-date knowledge of water safety and rescue techniques, such as the Girlguiding water safety training module.

You'll need to conduct a risk assessment before taking part in any of these activities and should consider: 

  • Hygiene – hand cleaning. 
  • Water quality. 
  • Checking the tide times (if applicable). 
  • The environment the activity is taking place in. Is the edge of the water fenced off or could someone fall in?  
  • The depth of the water. If someone were to fall in, how easy would it be to rescue them? 
  • If the depth of water varies (for example if paddling in the sea). Could someone wander out and be out of their depth? 
  • Whether there are other external supervisors (like lifeguards) present.
  • The air and water temperature. 
  • The water confidence of the participants. 
  • How slippery the ground is likely to be.  
  • The weather forecast on the day of the activity.  
  • The number of responsible adult helpers based on the number of participants, their section, the ability of the participants and the type of water. 
  • The presence of changing facilities, in case girls need to change into different clothing. 

If you're planning to get in the water, here are some additional considerations: 

  • How deep is the water?  
  • Is the water flowing or turbulent?  
  • What is likely to be underfoot? Shoes should be worn if there is a chance of broken glass, weever fish, slippery rocks, or the ground is unknown. 
  • Are there likely to be distractions or many other people present?  
  • How easy could it be for someone to get into a water depth that's above their knees?  

The leader must: 

  • Make sure that safety rules and alarm signals have been explained to the girls and that girls understand that they need to follow instructions immediately. 
  • Follow water safety guidance and make sure that the responsible adult helpers are familiar with them. 
  • Discuss their responsibilities with adult helpers (and lifeguards, if required) and make sure that safety equipment is provided. 
  • The depth of the water should be checked in advance to make sure that suitable boundaries for the activity can be set. This is particularly important where the bottom may shelve steeply. 
  • Ensure spare clothes are brought in case girls get wet.  
  • Make sure girls and parents or carers are aware of the symptoms of Weil's disease (Leptospirosis) and what action to take if they suspect infection. On the day of the activity, advise participants to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help prevent infection. If they experience the symptoms within 2 weeks of participation in watersports, their doctor should be informed so they're tested for Leptospirosis, and it's not assumed to be flu.

The activity leader must be satisfied that the conditions on the day are suitable for the activity, taking into account: 

  • Local advice.
  • The weather conditions.
  • The location and temperature of the water.
  • The age, ability and state of health of the paddlers.
  • Natural hazards, for example weeds, rocks, state of the tide and any visible pollution (chemical or rubbish).

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult-to-child ratio is mandatory.

  • Rainbows: 1:5 (minimum of 2 adults).
  • Brownies: 1:8.
  • Guides: 1:12.
  • Rangers: 1 leader, with a recommended second adult.