Britain’s diplomatic service has released fresh guidance for UK citizens planning trips to Spain during the summer season.
The revised safety recommendations for holidaymakers follow a recent period of extreme heat across Spain, during which temperatures climbed beyond 40 degrees Celsius.
Early data indicates the severe weather conditions have resulted in approximately one thousand fatalities in Spain.
The Foreign Office is urging visitors to exercise particular caution when entering the sea or swimming pools, noting that drowning incidents occur annually in both marine and pool environments in Spain.
The department emphasised the need for constant supervision of children, particularly in aquatic settings.
Updated guidance now advises keeping children within immediate reach in swimming pools and on shorelines, irrespective of whether a lifeguard is on duty.
Marine dangers including powerful currents, submerged rocks, and deceptive waves mean certain zones are unsuitable for swimming and may result in severe harm or fatalities.
The Foreign Office warned against jumping into unfamiliar bodies of water and bathing at coastal locations where rivers flow into the ocean, as these spots can pose heightened risks.
Holidaymakers were also reminded to observe carefully the coloured flag system operated at numerous Spanish beaches.
A red flag signals that entering the water poses danger.
Travellers should additionally respect local alerts regarding jellyfish presence, which can occasionally appear in coastal waters.
The Foreign Office suggested consulting supplementary materials such as ABTA’s water safety information and guidance from the Royal Life Saving Society regarding safe swimming during vacations.
Separately, alterations to British border procedures for families returning from abroad are also approaching.
From Wednesday July 8th, children between eight and nine years of age who stand at least 120 centimetres tall and are travelling alongside an adult will be permitted to use UK airport automated gates.
The existing minimum age threshold for automated gate usage stands at ten, having previously been twelve prior to 2023.
The modification is anticipated to accelerate processing times, as younger children currently require manual handling by Border Force personnel.
The new regulation will render roughly one and a half million additional children eligible to use automated gates during the coming twelve months, according to 2025 UK arrival statistics.
The adjustment affects the thirteen British airports equipped with automated gates:
London Heathrow
London Gatwick
London City
London Luton
London Stansted
Manchester
Birmingham
Bristol
East Midlands
Newcastle
Cardiff
Edinburgh
Glasgow
More than two hundred and ninety automated gates function throughout Britain, including at particular ports and European entry points where British travellers are processed.
Furthermore, forty-eight EU airports now permit British holidaymakers to utilise automated gates.
These automated gates accommodate visitors arriving from non-Schengen nations including America, Australia, and Japan.