Leisure safety

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) website offers a host of information and advice to help individuals and families prevent accidents from happening. It covers a range of advice on activities including trampolining, cycling and camping safety.

Open water (including river safety)

Information from our partners West Mercia Police

Every year, and in particular during the warmer summer months, the police receive reports of people jumping into rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries, and getting into difficulty.

Some people have been successfully rescued but tragically a number have lost their lives. According to the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) 85 per cent of accidental drownings happen in open water, often due to a lack of understanding or awareness of the dangers at such locations.

There's also a misconception that such tragedies usually involve people who are poor swimmers. In fact the shock of sudden cold water immersion or inhalation can cause instant death due to a condition known as vagal inhibition or 'reflex cardiac arrest'. This has been attributed as a cause of cold water deaths and can affect the strongest swimmers and the fittest people.

However you don't have to go swimming or paddling to be at risk. The RLSS UK says that the largest proportion of drownings in the UK involve people walking or running next to open water.

The dangers

Anyone using open water or being near it needs to be aware of hazards and other risk factors including:

Injury if jumping or diving into water which is shallower than it appears
Deeper water than expected, which can increase the risk of drowning if you get into difficulty
Cold temperatures, particularly in deeper water, which can make swimming difficult and make it harder to get out
Open water can be very cold even on a hot summer's day, leading to cramp and breathing difficulties
River banks can be unstable and liable to collapse if you get too close to the edge
If you're in the water the loose and slippery sides of quarries and banks can make it difficult to climb out
There may be hidden obstacles or objects under the surface which could trap a person or cause injury
Strong currents can rapidly sweep people away, and they may be present even when the surface looks calm
It's often difficult for the emergency services to access open water sites such as quarries and riverbanks off the beaten track

Top tips to stay safe

It's clear from all of the above that everyone needs to take extra care when in or near open water and to adhere to the following safety advice:

Take notice of warning and guidance signs - water conditions are constantly changing
Swim parallel with the shore, rather than away from it, and avoid drifting in currents
Get out of the water as soon as you start to feel cold
Alcohol and swimming should never be mixed
If walking or running, keep away from the water's edge and supervise youngsters at all times
Don't use airbeds at open locations where they may be carried into deeper water and may not stay afloat
Don't swim near weirs, locks, pipes and sluices
Only enter water where there is adequate supervision and rescue cover
Wear recommended safety equipment - for example life jackets/helmets for canoeing
Don't jump/dive into open water unless you're sure of the depth and that there are no submerged hazards
Getting trained in first aid, rescue and resuscitation techniques could save a life
Ensure children know how to swim and that they don't enter the water alone

Increased health risks - open water swimming (LA Advice)

Open water swimming refers to swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea, rather than at a swimming pool.

Open water swimming can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses, or stomach bugs, which may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections. All swimmers can become unwell from swimming in any open water because of the presence of micro-organisms. The risk of becoming ill depends on various factors:

Children and novice swimmers are more likely to swallow water accidentally
Heavy rainfall can wash harmful bacteria from agricultural land open areas and sewage to rivers seas and bathing waters and affect water quality
Those with an impaired immune system are more susceptible to infection

Reducing the risk of getting ill

There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of illness when swimming in open waters:

Before you swim

Covering cuts, scratches or sores with a waterproof plaster before swimming
Wearing appropriate protective clothing such as a wet suit, gloves or protective footwear
Wash your hands before entering the water

While you swim

Remember to avoid swallowing or splashing water into your mouth
Observe local safety advice (also see safety advice above)
Use a to float or buoyancy aid (adults and children)

After swimming

Following your swim, you can minimise the risk of becoming ill by:

Cleaning your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or handling food thoroughly cleaning cuts or abrasions using soap and water
Handle your wetsuit with care after use. Rinse it with clean water as soon as practicable after swimming. Clean with detergent and rinse as advised by the manufacturer. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling or cleaning your wetsuit
Take a shower as soon as you get home

What to do if you become unwell

If you do become unwell with diarrhoea or any other symptoms, seek medical help and let them know you have been open water swimming. Do not swim again until you have had no diarrhoeal symptoms for at least 48 hours, or for a longer period if advised by a doctor.

Further information on water safety

Royal Life Saving Society UK - the drowning prevention charity is the UK's leading provider of water safety and drowning prevention education
The RNLI website is another good source for water safety information
GOV.UK discusses bathing water quality and health risks
The Royal Society For the Prevention Of Accidents - more information on water safety can be found on the RoSPA website
The Canal and River Trust also provides summer water advice on their website