Water Safety

Staying safe

It seems that wild water swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding have never been as popular, but it is important to know the risks so that you can plan a safe outing on the water…

It’s a very unfortunate fact that many drowning victims are competent swimmers that have overrated their abilities in more slightly more dangerous water, so it’s very important to know the risks before you take part in any water sport.

With open water swimming in the sea, rip currents are obviously the main concern. The best way to avoid rips is to choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags, which have been marked based on where is

safer to swim in the current conditions. This also helps you to be spotted more easily, should something go wrong.

If you do find yourself caught in a rip:

J Don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted J If you can stand, wade don’t swim J If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore J Always raise your hand and shout for help

Meanwhile, if you’re heading to the lake, be aware that inland waters are much, much colder than more familiar swimming waters. Cold water shock can be the precursor to drowning, as effect on the body of entering water 15°C and below is often underestimated.

If you do enter cold water unexpectedly: J Take a minute. The initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away or it could just be difficult to get out of because of steep and

slippery banks.

But whether you are heading to the sea or a lake, there are precautions you should take: J Check the conditions - including water temperature - before heading to the coast J Wear a wetsuit of appropriate thickness for the amount of time you plan to spend in the water and the type of activity you’re doing J Wear a flotation device. It greatly increases your chances of

making it through the initial shock

Also remember to keep your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and, should the worst happen, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard n.

J Relax and float on your back to catch your breath. Try to get

hold of something that will help you float Inland waters are also deceptive and hide numerous dangers for the unsuspecting person. For instance the water could be unexpectedly deep, and there could be hidden currents or hidden rubbish such as broken glass or shopping trolleys. The water may be polluted and be a serious threat to health

Further advice and information regarding staying safe in the water can be found at www.rnli.org