Open Water Safety Tips

Use a beach with lifeguards – This will give you and your loved ones extra protection from highly trained lifesavers.

Know your flags – beaches with lifeguards will also have flags to show you where it’s safe to swim. It will also tell you where to use surfboards and stand-up paddleboards. Most importantly, red flags will tell you that the water is dangerous and you shouldn’t enter it under any circumstances.

Know the risks – our coast is full of higher tides, cold waters, and stronger currents. Take the time to find out about the area you’re visiting and understand the risks.

Do not enter the water after drinking alcohol – this can impair your judgement and raise the risk of you getting into difficulty.

Float to live – this is the first thing to remember if you start to struggle in the water or fall in unexpectedly. Relax and try to breath normally. Tilt your head back until your ears are submerged and then use your hands to help you stay afloat. This will give you a chance to get your breathing under control and then call for help or swim to safety.

Don’t swim alone – Enjoy these areas as part of an organised group or with your friends/family. Let them know where you’re planning to swim and when you plan to return.

Be aware of the water temperature – cold water shock is incredibly dangerous and can seriously affect your breathing and movement. The shock can cause your blood vessels to close and restrict blood flow, meaning your heart needs to work harder. Your breathing can change uncontrollably, and you can start to feel panicked, raising your chance of inhaling water into your lungs.

Using Float to live - Relax and try to breath normally. Tilt your head back until your ears are submerged and then use your hands to help you stay afloat.

Allowing the initial effects to pass – this can take less than a minute so try not to swim straight away. Try to stay calm, relax and Float to live, then call for help or swim to safety.

Listening to your body – limit your exposure and get your warm if you start to experience; shivering, numbness/tingling, stiff limbs, confusion, blue lips/skin, weakness, rapid breathing, uncontrolled clenched jaw, or difficulty speaking.

Know your limits – Don’t risk going into the water unless you know it’s safe. If you’re in doubt, stay out.

Do not enter the water after drinking alcohol – this can impair your judgement and raise the risk of you getting into difficulty.

Get advice and pay attention to warning signs – check where you’re planning to visit and listen to any advice or warnings. This can include open water areas with trained lifeguards.

Stay on designated trails and behind barriers – the danger greatly increases if you leave marked paths around waterfalls. Climbing rocks, trying to get a closer look, or just getting a better photo, is not worth the added risk.

Be aware of slippery surfaces, unstable ground, and eroding cliffs – the areas around waterfalls are covered in algae, moss, and water from the waterfall. It can also be worn away or have soft soil around edges. This makes the ground incredibly slippery or sometimes likely to crumble away under your weight.

Stay alert to unexpected currents – the current near the edge of a waterfall can be surprisingly strong, even if the water above it looks calm.

Check the forecast in the area around the waterfall – these areas can flood rapidly, even if it’s not raining where you are. A storm upstream can send a heavy amount of water with little warning. It’s important to understand the weather for the whole area.

Don’t visit the area alone – Enjoy them as part of an organised group or with your friends/family. Let them know where you’re planning to visit and when you plan to return.

Only use safe access – you should only enter these areas in a safe location that you can easily exit. Steep banks can stop you from safely leaving the water.

Be aware of the depth and unseen hazards – Don’t jump or dive into these waters. The depth might vary and there could be unseen hazards under the water. This could be reeds, plant life, or even litter that could trap your feet.

Be aware of traffic – watch out for boats or people travelling along these areas. Larger boats can find it hard to spot swimmers.

Be mindful of waterborne diseases and contaminants – canal and river water is often untreated. It can contain diseases, such as Weil’s disease, pollution, biological or chemical contaminants.

Stay away from hazards and strong currents – don’t enter water near weirs, locks, pipes, and sluices. These are often linked with strong currents and could easily sweep you away.