When the sun is beaming down, wild swimming is a popular choice to cool down during the summer months. Across the UK, there are many beautiful areas to take a dip, and enjoy a family day out.
However, while we enjoy these outdoor swims, it is crucial to be safe and prepared for any situation that may occur.
Last year, we spoke with a local Search & Rescue team. They shared their best advice for being safe in the water. Let’s take a look at their perspective on safe wild swimming.
Wild swimming in the UK
A 2021 report by Outdoor Swimmer shares some interesting facts and statistics about wild swimming in the UK.
- 45% of swimmers increased how much they swam outside in 2020
- 69.4% say outdoor swimming is essential or very important for their mental health
- When travelling for non-swimming reasons, 78% look for opportunities to swim in open water
- 75% of new outdoor swimmers said they wanted to continue swimming outside through winter
- 42% of outdoor swimmers say that cold water is not a barrier to swimming as often as they would like
- Estimated participation in outdoor swimming in the UK has increased by between 1.5 and 3 times since 2019
When done safely, wild swimming can have wide ranging benefits. Outdoor swimmers report better mental health, physical health, and a sense of community. This poses the question; what precautions can we take to ensure that we stay safe and well while wild swimming?
Swimming outdoors safely
If you are a frequent outdoor swimmer, you may already be brushed up on the latest safety advice. However, for those who are not, or are planning to wild swim for the very first time, we share some valuable advice from a local water rescue team in Yorkshire.
Do your research
A spontaneous swim in the UK is a challenge due to the ever changing weather forecast! Doing your research prior to an outdoor swim could be the difference between an enjoyable day out, and an emergency situation. It is recommended to not only check the weather, but to also research the area you are visiting for your swim.
Take a look at the surrounding areas, check for reviews, local swimming groups, etc. Aim to find out as much about the water you want to swim in as possible, this avoids any surprises and helps you properly prepare.
Consider cold water
This is a major factor in requiring the assistance of first responders, and search & rescue teams. Many swimmers do not anticipate how cold the water can be in different areas of the water, such as in the middle of a reservoir. As water tends to be warmer at the shoreline, many swimmers think they are safe to swim to the centre, where the water is often unexpectedly cold, and this can cause panic.
Other negative reactions to cold water include cold shock, cold incapacitation, cramp, asthma triggers, hypothermia, and more. In addition to our physiological responses, inexperienced swimmers may find the cold water overwhelming, and begin to feel anxious, or panic, making it more difficult to make rational and safe decisions.
Swim with others
It may seem like a pleasant idea to have a peaceful solo swim, but this can extremely dangerous. We can’t predict an emergency, so it is important to ensure there are multiple people available to seek assistance on your behalf, if an accident is to happen. In many cases, we are unaware of what is underneath the water.
This may be items that may have been discarded, such as plastic bottles, through to large items like supermarket trolleys. Without a clear view under the water, there is a risk of becoming stuck, or receiving an injury that renders you unable to swim back to shore. In cases such as this, it is important to have assistance from others, and the ability to contact emergency teams, such as water rescue.
Be prepared
Aside from the swimming necessities, such as swimming costume, spare clothing, and a towel, there are many more useful products that you can bring with you. As we know, the UK weather is unpredictable, so preparing for weather changes is important. You might leave the house in a t-shirt and shorts, only to be met with a storm later on.
Some key items to stay safe include, warm clothing, snacks and water, communication devices, spare batteries, navigation equipment, first aid equipment, and hypothermia prevention blankets. These things can not only become essential in an emergency, but they can also provide peace of mind.
Hypothermia awareness
Immersion in cold water is one of the most common ways for hypothermia to develop in an individual. Outdoor swimming in the winter heightens this risk even further, as the air can also be extremely cold. Despite this, there are ways to mitigate this risk and have a safe swim.
A mixture of the right prevention, preparedness, and education is key to safe outdoor activities. Although in some cases we can do everything correctly, and hypothermia can still develop. It is important to know the symptoms to look out for, so that you can get the right kind of assistance in the appropriate time frame.
- Cold skin
- Weak pulse
- Confusion or memory loss
- May have blue lips
- Slow and shallow breathing
- Shivering
- Lack of energy
Assisting a person showing hypothermia symptoms
If a person has begun to show symptoms of hypothermia, they can begin to deteriorate quickly depending on the circumstances. Here are just some ways you can help a person with hypothermia as you await further advice or assistance.
- Get the person out of the water
- Use an emergency blanket such as THERMARMOUR
- Keep them talking to assess their mental state and provide comfort
- Provide a barrier between the individual and the ground
- Provide warm, sweet drinks (not hot or alcoholic)
- Try to locate a suitable sheltered area
How does THERMARMOUR help?
THERMARMOUR is not your typical foil or space blanket. Traditional “emergency” blankets only reflect heat, and often do not provide much warmth or protection from the elements. With THERMARMOUR, this is not the case. The inside of the blanket has a soft fleece lining, and the unique combination of layers traps body heat, and recirculates it.
An important feature of our Emergency products is that they works even if the person is wet. In fact, the water vapour can quicken the warming process. For adverse weather, the outer layer is water resistant and windproof, protecting the individual from cold winds and rain. Take a look at our Emergency blanket in a water rescue scenario.
THERMARMOUR is a simple solution that can be easily carried in an emergency kit, or backpack. The compressed packaging ensures that it is easy to transport to any outdoor activity. It is easy to use, all you need to do is open up the packet, and wrap it around the individual. Our Emergency blanket effective from the moment is is applied.
If you are interested in purchasing our Emergency blanket for yourself, or your swimming community, you can shop online with fast and free UK mainland delivery when you spend over £50. For first responders, you can contact our team to discuss larger orders.
Additional sources
Categories: Emergency, Product Spotlight
Tags: first responders, hypothermia, hypothermia prevention, outdoor swimming, search and rescue, swimming, water rescue, wild swimming
