LGA warns of drowning risk for bathers following heat health alert

The Local Government Association (LGA) issued a warning about drowning risk for bathers following a heat health alert, the association said in a news item listed on its severe weather pages dated 6 August 2025¹.

The LGA's severe weather resource sets out the role councils play during such incidents. It states that "during extreme weather, the most important role a council can play is to provide local leadership", and that the resource "is designed to help your council prepare for, and react to, extreme weather and ensure effective communication with your residents"¹.

The same pages list related LGA news items on heat and water safety, including "Heatwave: LGA responds to Met Office Red Heat Alert" and "'Don't put lives at risk': Councils issue COVID-19 heatwave warning"¹. The LGA also publishes "A guide for communicating during extreme weather"¹.

The LGA pages do not give the number of incidents, the locations covered by the warning, or the dates of the heat health alert itself. Those details have not been reported in the material published on the association's severe weather pages¹.

Why it matters for households

The warning concerns people swimming or bathing outdoors during hot weather, a period when councils are being asked to communicate clearly with residents about local risks¹. The LGA's stated position is that local leadership and effective communication with residents are the central council roles in extreme weather¹. The pages do not set out specific safety instructions for bathers, and no further guidance from the association on this warning has been reported¹.

Households planning to swim outdoors in hot weather can read the site's guide to swimming safely in rivers, lakes and the sea in hot weather, and the wider heatwaves and drought section.

What happens next

No dated next steps are given on the LGA severe weather pages beyond the 6 August 2025 date on the news listing¹.