Inland Water Safety : Safety Advice
Millions of people use the rivers, lakes, canals and other inland waters in the UK for recreational activity, sport and leisure. Many more carry out leisure activities alongside inland waters. There is therefore extensive exposure of people to a hazardous environment, that if misunderstood or used wrongly, is life-threatening.
There are a number of factors that link together to form 'the drowning chain' which illustrates the possible combination of events that lead to drowning:-
- Ignorance, disregard or misjudgement of danger
- Unrestricted access to hazards
- Absence of adequate supervision
- Inability to save yourself or be rescued
Education and information will help counter ignorance, disregard and misjudgement. This can take the form of general public awareness campaigns, specific advice at water sites and signage relevant to a particular site. Fencing and vegetation can prevent unrestricted access to hazards. Supervision of children around water is essential and supervision of swimming areas by trained lifeguards will help reduce the risk of drowning. Training can be undertaken in life-saving and personal survival so that should you find yourself in an emergency situation you will know what to do to help yourself and others.
It is a combination of these things that will counter the factors in the 'drowning chain'. Often too much reliance is placed on the final part of the chain, with too much emphasis on rescue equipment, whereas the most positive way of preventing drowning is to ensure that entry into the water does not happen in the first place. This is particularly true in respect of inland waters and information and education will be the most relevant tools to support this. It would be impractical, in some cases impossible and in conflict with the landscape, to fence much of the UK's inland waters.
Even during the warmer summer months in the UK inland waters remain cold. However as the air temperature rises people are increasingly likely to jump or dive into lakes and rivers to cool off. Research has shown that many will be able to swim, the majority of them will be male and alcohol and/or peer pressure may feature in their decision to plunge in. As a result of sudden immersion in cold water, hidden currents and submerged hazards like refuse and vegetation, many will get into difficulties and be unable to save themselves.
For these reasons the Forum says DO NOT SWIM AT UNSUPERVISED INLAND WATER SITES. Under by-law British Waterways has banned swimming in all its canals and, along with the Environment Agency, discourages swimming in its rivers.
Generally those using lakes, rivers and canals for boating and sporting activities will not be planning to go in the water, but this is always a possibility. The same hazards exist in terms of sudden immersion in cold water, hidden currents and submerged items. It is therefore essential that anyone on or near the water wears a buoyancy aid, takes some basic training in personal survival and knows what to do in an emergency situation. Parental supervision of children on or near the water is essential.
Further advice is available for the public and for inland water site operators.
