In the warmer temperatures and with the summer holidays on the horizon, Bath & North East Somerset Council is urging people to heed water safety advice.
Open water swimming is increasingly popular but poses many risks which are not all visible.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to be mindful of the dangers of strong currents and hidden underwater objects that could cause serious injury, especially if jumping in from height.
Rivers and canals can also carry infections including Cryptosporidium and Giardia that cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
Ahead of the summer season and World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, the council is asking people to keep themselves safe by heeding local safety signage that warns of the dangers and to follow these top tips if going into the water:
- Don’t swim on your own
- Check the water quality information on the gov.uk webpage
- Avoid bathing on higher risk days such as after heavy rainfall or during strong currents
- Cover cuts with a waterproof plaster and consider a wetsuit
- Use sun cream even if it’s a cloudy day
- Avoid swallowing or splashing water into your mouth
- Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming
- Stay calm, float and call for help if you get into trouble
- Wash your hands with soap after swimming
- Beware of underwater obstacles such as rocks and weeds
If you become unwell after swimming, call 111 or visit www.nhs.uk to seek medical help. Stay off school or work and do not swim again until you've not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days. If you also have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.
Becky Reynolds, Director of Public Health and Prevention, said: “Our rivers and waterways are wonderful and we want to encourage people to enjoy visiting them safely, however open water swimming can be dangerous and there are risks involved. Please don’t swim alone and don’t get in at all if you can’t swim.”
“Risks range from hidden dangers because you can’t see any obstacles that might be beneath the surface, to water borne infections that cause nasty stomach bugs. So, if swimming in open water this summer, please follow our top tips to reduce your risk of illness or getting into difficulty.”
The National Water Safety Forum's latest annual report shows that in 2022 there were 226 deaths in the UK from accidental water fatalities, and 60% of these happened at inland waters such as canals, rivers, lakes, quarries and reservoirs.
Ben Thompson, Temporary Group Manager at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We want people to enjoy the water this summer, so it's vitally important that you take heed of safety advice.
"Think about the hidden dangers of water, consider the safety measures you need to take, and please call 999 if someone gets into difficulty in water."
Read the advice from Avon Fire & Rescue about water safety, and the open water safety tips from the UK Royal Life Saving Society.
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