Water Safety
There are so many swim safety considerations when operating in and around water. Quite often the more inviting and safe the water looks the more dangerous it can be. We have provided key basic safety considerations that will make the water safer for you and your fellow swimmers.
Water Movement
You should understand the effect that winds, tides, currents and flow rates have on the water you intend to cross or swim. Once you are in the water or past the point of no return underestimating any of the above will potentially kill you. Never try and fight the water movement always try and use that movement to support your aim!
Temperature
Cold water is a killer, if you are going to be immersed in water for a while ensure you can either get out quickly if you start to feel the cold or have a means to insulate yourself from the cold.
Buoyancy
Unless you are a purist or swimming in safe water having a buouyancy aide can increase your enjoyment and ability to remain in the water. There are numerous ways this can be achieved; wetsuit, neoprene shorts, neoprene vest, buoyancy aide, inflated canoe bag and pretty much anything you can inflate that will hold air. This includes your trousers with the legs knotted!
Visibility
It is important that other water users can see you, you can become very difficult to see in choppy water or when visibility is reduced by fog or sun strike. This can be achieved with contrasting and bright coloured clothing/equipment or the use of a swimming safety buoy.
Water Movement
You should understand the effect that winds, tides, currents and flow rates have on the water you intend to cross or swim. Once you are in the water or past the point of no return underestimating any of the above will potentially kill you. Never try and fight the water movement always try and use that movement to support your aim!
Temperature
Cold water is a killer, if you are going to be immersed in water for a while ensure you can either get out quickly if you start to feel the cold or have a means to insulate yourself from the cold.
Buoyancy
Unless you are a purist or swimming in safe water having a buouyancy aide can increase your enjoyment and ability to remain in the water. There are numerous ways this can be achieved; wetsuit, neoprene shorts, neoprene vest, buoyancy aide, inflated canoe bag and pretty much anything you can inflate that will hold air. This includes your trousers with the legs knotted!
Visibility
It is important that other water users can see you, you can become very difficult to see in choppy water or when visibility is reduced by fog or sun strike. This can be achieved with contrasting and bright coloured clothing/equipment or the use of a swimming safety buoy.
Supervision
If you are lucky enough to have somebody that will paddle a canoe with you it will provide a much safer means to enjoy your swim. If you want to cross a large body of water without somebody on top of the water ideally you should have somebody above the water on hand to assist you and warn others of your presence in the water. Its also quite nice to have a chat with somebody in a stunning view point in the water, or simply take a breather!
Where to swim
If you swim on your own, swim along a shoreline in order that if you get into difficulty your chances of getting to water you can stand in are greater as is the chance of assistance from the shoreline.
Safety in Numbers!
The larger the group you swim with the increased profile you present in the water, it also means that if somebody gets into difficulty there is immediate support available.
If you are lucky enough to have somebody that will paddle a canoe with you it will provide a much safer means to enjoy your swim. If you want to cross a large body of water without somebody on top of the water ideally you should have somebody above the water on hand to assist you and warn others of your presence in the water. Its also quite nice to have a chat with somebody in a stunning view point in the water, or simply take a breather!
Where to swim
If you swim on your own, swim along a shoreline in order that if you get into difficulty your chances of getting to water you can stand in are greater as is the chance of assistance from the shoreline.
Safety in Numbers!
The larger the group you swim with the increased profile you present in the water, it also means that if somebody gets into difficulty there is immediate support available.
