AS TEMPERATURES begin to rise and the long summer holidays start residents are being warned to stay safe when at lakes, reservoirs and beaches.
Though it can be tempting to enter the water on a hot day, open water poses unique hazards that are often underestimated, and natural bodies of water can be unpredictable and dangerous.
West Midlands Ambulance Service are urging the public to be vigilant about the dangers associated with swimming in open water.
Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) manager, Ben Pallante said: “Each year, we see a number of people become injured or lose their lives in water-related incidents. Which is why we are urging people not to enter the water if there’s not a lifeguard or safety measures in place.
“The water can hide a number of hazards which are not visible such as; the depth of the water, the temperature of the water, the speed of the water, strong currents and tides and obstacles such as rocks and drains under the surface of the water.
“If you see someone in the water and think they might be in difficulty, please call 999 immediately and give them as much information as you can about your location and try to stay as close as you can as to where you saw the person in the water, if it is safe to do so.
“All HART paramedics are trained and equipped to manage any patient within the water environment so please never enter the water in an attempt to rescue a person or an animal and call 999 immediately, and the HART team along with the fire service will be able to attend to support you and rescue that patient.”
Water company, Severn Trent, is also warning residents of the dangers at reservoirs across the region.
The company says: “It might be tempting to venture into the open waters, but the reservoirs can contain hidden dangers including strong currents, freezing temperatures and hidden objects under the surface.”
Donna Marshall, visitor engagement manager at Severn Trent, said: “Now summer has finally arrived we’re looking forward to welcoming families and people to our wonderful visitor sites.
“Yet while it may be tempting to some to take a swim in a reservoir to cool off, they’re operational sites. Even on a hot day they’re likely to be extremely cold which can lead to even strong swimmers finding themselves in trouble.
“We take the safety of all our visitors extremely seriously and want them to remain conscious of the dangers that can result from entering the water. We don’t have lifeguards on site or safe swimming areas, so we’d ask visitors to not take that risk.”
Risks to consider in open water include:
- It is very cold and could cause cold water shock or hypothermia.
- There may be hidden currents which could make it difficult to swim back to shore, even for an experienced swimmer.
- It can be difficult to get out e.g. steep slimy banks.
- It can be deeper than it looks and can be difficult to estimate the water’s depth.
- There can be unexpected obstacles such as rocks and drains hidden beneath the water.
