It is still about water

It is still about water

I was always fascinated by water. Not so much that I like to get wet even though I can remember when I was a child I found it very exiting to go swimming with my friends in summer. I was a later swimmer which was probably the result of my mother being a non-swimmer. She was very protective of me so I wasn't allowed into the pool for the swimmers and I always had my little floaters around my arms. Guess what: I got fed up one day of being in a different pool from my friends with all the BABIES and my little floaters that I just ditched them and jumped into the big pool. I swallowed a bit of water when I went down and it was a bit of a shock but when I surfaced again I started to swim and that was it. That was a bit foolish but I was only young. Well actually, it was very foolish and that is what I want to warn you about.

It is that time of year again when the weather is right to go to the beach and for a dip or a good swim. There are so many lovely beaches around the UK and my favourite is Bournemouth with the long sandy beach and the nice facilities. Last weeks weekend paper was full of suggestions where you can go for the nicest swim in the wild, be it river, lake or sea. There are lovely suggestions and I might try some, the river Frome at Lullington sounds nice. 

What I've lost is a note about the dangers of going swimming. On the website of the RNLI they say that approximately 190 people lose their lives at the British and Irish coast every year. They state that not everybody can be saved and show the dangers of open water and tell you to beware of it and how to behave. I was quite shocked about the loss of life in this time and age but then I remembered that with the sea we are dealing with a strong, ancient force which cannot be controlled. One of the dangers they are talking about is ALCOHOL. So be aware that your actions and your judgement are impaired when you are drinking near open water. Don't go swimming after you have had alcohol, save that for afterwards. Look out for each other when drinking near open water. Young lives have been cut short by falling unnoticed into a river after happy nights out.

Another risk is COLD WATER SHOCK. This happens when you jump into water which is colder than 15℃. Even in summer the water around the British and Irish coast is around 12℃. Rivers can even be colder. So don't jump into the water because it can take your breath away and leave you unresponsive for long enough to drown or it can even give you a heart attack, even when you are young and healthy.

By the way, you shouldn't jump into water you do not know to be deep enough anyway.

Other risks involve TIDES, CURRENTS and WAVES. So be aware of the risks and always check the tide table. If possible swim at a beach which is covered by the life guards and follow their advice. 

For more information you can go on the RNLI website:  https://www.respectthewater.com/

Stay safe and enjoy the summer.

Photograph by Roger Giraud-Saunders