I am aware of a few concerning local incidents involving water recently, please do take care around water here in and around Swindon and be aware of the dangers, particularly when it comes to children.
Water claims the lives of more than 50 children a year in the UK. Drowning is among the leading causes of accidental death. Under-estimating the dangers of water can have tragic consequences. You may be able to swim well in a warm indoor pool, but that does not mean you will be able to swim in cold water.
The key to staying safe is making the right choices to avoid getting into difficulty in the first place.
Here are some top tips for staying safe around water:
Take notice of safety information, warning signs and flags. Younger children may not recognise the dangers, and need to be supervised by an adult.
Do not jump or dive into rivers. Quick entry into cold water can cause your body to go into shock. Also it's difficult to judge the depth just by looking, there can be submerged dangers such as weed or rubbish.
Be aware of strong currents and don't go into water near locks, weirs, sluices, bridges and pipes as these structures are often linked with strong currents.
The water in rivers and lakes can be colder than you expect at any time of the year. Cold water shock will affect your ability to swim, look after yourself, or rescue others. It's a key reason why many people drown.
Get trained in lifesaving and resuscitation techniques. Know what to do in an emergency.
(There are a number of organisations that deliver CPR training, ranging from charities and voluntary ambulance services to private companies. The following charities provide CPR training: British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and Royal Life Saving Society UK)
Airbeds, inner tubes and other flotation devices can easily be carried or blown in to deep water and may not keep you afloat.
Consuming alcohol will impair your ability and judgement in and around water.
Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/.../publicat.../staying-safe-around-water
