Child death overview panel summer updates

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

A photo of Carrie Smith and Dr Catherine McKenna with the CDOP booklet

The child death overview panel (CDOP) has a number of updates for the summer months, including a new booklet for all education settings for responding to a child death.

Should such a tragedy occur, there is expert and free support available for pupils in education settings aged 0 - 17 to help in responding to a child’s death.

A new booklet with information about the immediate response and the longer term impact of a child’s death on an education setting is now available on HERE for schools. You can also request a copy by emailing the CDOP or the ERSCP team.

Alternatively, visit the ERSCP website for more information and to sign up for the next free training session for education settings on Thursday, 8 October, 4-5pm.

Carrie Smith and Dr Catherine McKenna, Principal Educational Psychologist, collaborated to produce the booklet.

The CDOP also shares resources for:

  • Water safety campaigns
  • Carbon monoxide safety during the summer holidays
  • Top tips for summer safety on the roads
  • Keeping babies safe advice
  • Keeping young people safe from suicide this summer

Water safety campaigns in the East Riding

During drowning prevention week 2026, the RNLI teamed up with ERSCP to deliver water safety workshops in the region. The Bridlington Family Hub and Withernsea Family Hub hosted workshops where families could learn about the ‘Float to Live’ techniques and how to stay safe near water. For younger children, the family home and garden requires close adult supervision for ‘splash safety’ in the bath, paddling pool, hot tub and pond.

The river simulator in Beverley showed members of the public how to stay safe near open water and demonstrated the hidden dangers of swimming in rivers.

There was multi-agency turn out for the ‘drowning prevention’ week demonstration in Beverley. The fire service experts were on hand to explain the dangers of swimming in rivers, lakes and streams. The key messages were only swim in designated, lifeguarded water that is safe for swimming and never ‘tombstone’ or jump into water from a height as there are many unknown dangers which could be a threat to life. Please, stay safe this summer and don’t put yourself or others at risk of harm!

float to liveriver simulator

Carbon monoxide safety during the summer holidays

If you are staying in a holiday property this summer, make sure you check the carbon monoxide alarm on arrival. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Alarms should have a test button which will let you know if the alarm is in working condition and actively detecting for the gas.

Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea and tiredness. If you suspect that an appliance is spilling carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, contact the manager of the property and get into the fresh air immediately. Switch off the appliance and shut off the gas supply if you can. The Health and Safety Executive website has more information.

Top tips for summer safety on the roads

Safe road use this summer is important whether you are heading off on a long journey, visiting the seaside for a daytrip or enjoying a cycle ride in the sunshine. Top tips include checking your vehicle before you go, staying hydrated and leaving plenty of time to travel when the roads are more likely to be packed with holidaymakers. Check out these summer driving tips for a safe summer on the roads for you and all the family. And, remember to fill in the online petition to make wearing helmets on scooters and bicycles a legal requirement on public roads.

Summer keeping babies safe advice

Summer safety for babies is about keeping them safe in the summertime through warm weather periods, travelling to and from to holiday locations and also making sure babies have a safe place to sleep when they are away from their usual home.

Be careful with babies during bath time, when playing with toys that contain button-batteries and, of course, at bedtime they should always follow the ‘back-to-sleep’ advice. There are some useful videos for parents here Safer sleep and reducing accidents: key messages for parents

Warmer weather and summer holidays can make it trickier to follow safer sleep advice, which reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The Lullaby Trust has some practical top tips for keeping babies safe in the hot weather, including travelling by car and following a safer sleep routine, even on holiday.  Hot weather | The Lullaby Trust Safer sleep on holiday | The Lullaby Trust. It is important to plan ahead for sleep away from home and, in particular, in holiday accommodation. Many provide cots but it is always better to check in advance to ensure there is a safe cot for the baby to sleep in.

A cot should have:

  • A clean, firm and flat, waterproof mattress
  • A well-fitting mattress with no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the cot
  • No cot bumpers or soft items in the cot
  • A rigid, firm base
  • No damage to the cot

Make sure the cot is placed away from any radiators, windows and air conditioning to help them stay at an ideal body temperature.

The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) have issued a range of short, simple videos which share key messages about Safe Sleep, Safe Handling and Safe Spaces. These messages reinforce our Keeping Babies Safe guidance and we continue to encourage this advice to be shared widely. The safety videos can be accessed via Safer sleep and reducing accidents: key messages for parents and include advice on co sleeping, safe sleep positions, temperature control and safe cots as well as product safety, bath safety and avoiding accidents.

Keeping young people safe from suicide this summer

When young people are thinking about suicide or feeling unsafe, they need to know how and where to find help. This summer, keep talking to your young people and supporting them to be open about their feelings. The young person’s suicide prevention charity, Papyrus, offers ‘HopeLine’ which is a 24/7 free and confidential helpline offering practical, compassionate support around the clock. Call 0300 102 2470 Text 88247 Email pat@papyrus-uk.org. There is more information on the Papyrus website.

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