Great Witley & Hillhampton Parish Council
  • Home
  • Public Notices
  • Councillors
  • Committees & Organisations
  • News
  • History
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us

Open Water Safety

27/6/2020

0 Comments

 
​Open Water Safety


West Mercia Police encourage people to stay safe when in or near open water and highlight the hazards associated with it.
Drowning Prevention Week 12-19 June 2020. Download the RLSS UK's free water safety resources here https://www.rlss.org.uk/drowning-prevention-week. #EnjoyWaterSafely #BeALifesaver #DPW.

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 is 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 of swimmers and the fittest of 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 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 are in the water the loose and slippery sides of quarries and banks can make if 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 is 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 is 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 are 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 do not enter the water alone.
Water Safety Links:

Royal Life Saving Society UK
The drowning prevention charity is the UK's leading provider of water safety and drowning prevention education. For more information about RLSS UK: Visit rlss.org.uk, follow on Twitter - @RLSSUK; visit Facebook page - facebook.com/RLSSUK or call - 0300 323 0096.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Funded by charitable donations the RNLI has saved at least 140,000 lives at sea since 1824 and is another good source of water safety information.

The Royal Society For the Prevention Of Accidents
More information on water safety can be found on the website of RoSPA, a charity dedicated to saving lives and reducing injury which was founded more than a century ago.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    Categories

    All
    Broadband
    Council News
    Events
    Local News
    Vacancies

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Public Notices
  • Councillors
  • Committees & Organisations
  • News
  • History
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us