Home and Dry
Home and Dry is our free water safety programme, and it could save your life.
Built by the search and rescue team that actually responds when things go wrong near water, this course teaches you the things that most people never think about until it is too late.
What the course covers
Home and Dry is structured across seven modules covering everything from the basics of drowning and how the body reacts to cold water, through to rescue techniques and resuscitation.
Module 1: Introduction to the course and why water safety matters.
Module 2: Drowning. What it actually is, how the body reacts, how cold affects you, where drownings happen and who is most at risk.
Module 3: Water and how it behaves. How rivers flow, the differences between lakes, pools and flood water, and why moving water is so much more dangerous than it looks.
Module 4: Hazards in water. Sharp objects, foot traps, strainers, weirs and the risk of disease and infection.
Module 5: Safety precautions. Calling for help, telling someone where you are going, why you should never cross flooded streams, why you should never go onto ice, and looking after your mates.
Module 6: Rescue techniques. Talk, reach, throw, and when to call 999. How to help without becoming a victim yourself.
Module 7: Resuscitation. How to revive a drowned person and the specific differences from standard CPR.
Who is it for?
Everyone. Genuinely. If you live near water, walk near water, work near water, or have children who play near water, this course is for you. It is also used by care homes to train their staff, by youth groups as part of their safety education, and by schools as a complement to our in-person visits.
How long does it take?
Around 20 to 30 minutes to complete. You can do it in one sitting or come back to it in bitesize chunks, there is no time limit, and you can revisit any module as often as you like. You will receive a certificate with your name on it when you finish, and registering does not sign you up to any mailing list; we will never share your details.
What does it cost?
Nothing. The course is completely free. We want as many people as possible to take it, because every person who understands water safety is one less person we might have to search for.
That said, the course does cost us money to provide. If you find it useful and would like to help us keep it free for everyone, a small donation towards the running costs would be greatly appreciated. But it is entirely optional.
Over 50,000 completions
Since we launched Home and Dry, over 50,000 people have completed the course. That is 50,000 people who now know how to recognise the dangers, how to stay safe, and how to help someone in trouble.
We are proud of that number, and we want to make it bigger.
