Inland Water Safety : Safety Advice
Ensure that you have a safe day out when on or near the water.
Follow The Water Safety Code:
Spot the Dangers
Check the weather forecast for the day and go equipped for the conditions. Check out the area when you arrive. Check out where the points of help are, look for safety information and advice.
Take Safety Advice
Notices will warn of dangers particular to the area that you are visiting, there may be a safety information notice at your point of arrival. Know what the signs mean and do what they tell you.
Go Together
Children should always go with an adult, not by themselves. Before allowing children to explore or play in the area, point out the dangers and establish where they are allowed to go and where they are not. If you are planning a trip alone, for example a boating or fishing trip, ensure that someone knows your plans including your intended whereabouts and expected time of return.
Learn How to Help
You may be able to help yourself and others if you know what to do in an emergency. Always get help, shout for help and send someone to ring 999. Do not jump into water to rescue someone. A drowning person may be very strong and pull you under the water as well, if it is too dangerous to help, leave the rescue to the emergency services. Consider taking some basic first aid training.
Leisure Activities and Sports
There are many opportunities for leisure connected with inland waters. People can enjoy a variety of leisure boating experiences as diverse as narrow boats on canals, motor cruisers on rivers and sailing on lakes and pools. In addition there are many water-sports available; scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing and rafting. It is impossible to give prescriptive safety advice for each activity here but there are some basic safety points common to all activity:
- Get some training in the activity that you are planning to do.
- Once trained, know your limitations, build up experience gradually in a variety of conditions.
- Join a recognised club to gain further information, training and support. (see the water sports section for further links).
- Plan and organise your trip/activity and ensure that someone has details of it.
- Know what the emergency procedures are for the environment that you are in and ensure that you have the relevant safety equipment with you and that it is working properly.
- ALWAYS WEAR A BUOYANCY AID OR LIFEJACKET WHEN ON OR NEAR THE WATER
The Forum advises people who want to swim in open water to swim at supervised inland water sites. However the opportunities for swimming at a supervised site are limited in this country as there are not many. Contact your Local Authority to find out if there are any in your area. The Cotswold Water Park has actually achieved a blue flag for the quality of its bathing waters, for more information go to www.waterpark.org/keynes.html Unless you can find a supervised swimming area, patrolled by lifeguards with relevant rescue equipment and procedures, do not use docks, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, canals or other similar water-bodies to swim in, visit your local swimming pool or life-guarded beach instead.
