To let my child swim in the great outdoors?

[MrsMeg]

So many tragic deaths this year in rivers and quarry's. it's so so bloody sad.

The advice from the authorities seems to be consistent with people being told to stay away. But I think this is wrong - human beings always have and always will be attracted to outdoor swimming - it's one of the most natural things in the world surely?

Instead of simply telling people not to do it, shouldn't we be educating people how to do it safely?

Would be interested to hear people's thoughts, particularly non-Brits.

Is outdoor swimming on the continent the norm? What about in Australia?

My son (14) has had an amazing summer swimming with his friends in the Thames (at Lechlade, not in London!)

It's not without risk and of COURSE I worry but am I being unreasonable letting him continue?

Any outdoor swimmers care to comment?

Ask that question of the parents of the kids who died.

Of course YABU. The reason outdoor swimming is considered very dangerous is because it IS very dangerous. No matter how strong a swimmer you are, the currents can drag you under in seconds. A 14 year old boy wouldnt stand a chance.

I also meant to say that you cant teach people how to do it safely when things like currents etc are so unpredictable.

I live in an area of the UK criss crossed with drains and rivers. It's simply not good enough to say "don't do it". Schools, parents and local government must ensure that there's a swimming program in place at school, and properly educate kids as to the dangers ( and joys) of swimming locally. There is no way on earth you will ever stop kids and teens my way from swimming: there's simply not enough ese to do,for a start. So ensuring safety through sense seems a good start. I'd go further: I have writtent o my MP ( for all the good it's done me) asking for localised driving tests: so many young boys dies after landing in a drain and not being able to get out, it seems wise to me to include submerged car handling in the test. But the Mp thinks differently.

Local councils MUST police wild swimming areas correctly, until there is a proper swimming system established in schools. Rather than the usual 1 years worth of splashing in the shallow end. Schools should be given cash to teach it properly.

There is nothing more wonderful than swimming outdoors in a lake or reservoir.

Life is full of risks. It's about making a judgement call based on having full facts and being aware of the dangers. Just saying don't do it is not enough.

Not sure how to get the information out there other than having notices and plaques stating where is safe and unsafe to swim and teaching kids about it at school.

The two that happened on the same day where i live,.were completely unrelated, but both at the same place. Disused quarry turned into several lakes. Many 'no swimming' signs. Both tangled up in weeds and drowned within hours of each other. The secong swimming out to an island to check for the first missing person (already dead in a completely different lake). Saying that i often swam in a lical river and jumped off bridges when i was younger, but only ever paddled at these lakes as sadly several people have died there whether from.becoming tangled in weeds or jumping off the cliffs and hitting the shallow bottom. I think in your case it depends on the area - have a number of people drowned there over the years? If so, yabu. If not, if there have been no casualties then maybe you are not.

Local to me, the triathlon club offer lake swimming sessions for juniors and adults which are monitored by canoeists. Rules also stipulate that you must be able to swim a km non stop. I think in that situation it's fine, also where the depth is enough to stand up in. Other than that I don't think I'd allow it, as weeds can grow quickly, currents change etc.

We live by the sea and i have had the misfortune of seeing someone pulled out of the sea having drowned. It was a long time before i could go back into the sea after that. My DD2 is 8 and can swim, although not strongly - I let her swim in the sea but only when i am there, obviously - i have to say i still have my heart in my mouth even though she doesn't go out of her depths. It just seems so natural especially in the hot weather to enjoy the water and she does, she loves it.

Im not sure i'd allow her to swim in a lake/river

It surely depends on the individual lake/river.

A lake near me has paid for swimming sessions every week.

Many people swim quie safely in specific stretches of the Derwent in Derbyshire.

in countries where lots of people have countries there are large fatality rates in children drowning in pools so it seems it is about teaching full stop regardless of whether it's indoors or outdoor - in outdoor it is a case of identifying where it is safe to swim.

in the USA where there are lots of home swimming pools they have training available from 6 mths old where they learn to kick themselves on to their back and float and shout, from 18mths they do a mixture of float then swim to get to the edge.

it is about knowing safe places I think. the kids that died near me were swimming in a spot known to be dangerous due to the currents in that specific place. I for one don't know the safe areas, I can swim but don't often at all so my kids would not be allowed a things stand. sadly I just don't have the spare cash to swim often enough with them to teach them so they are not allowed to so much as paddle without me.

Am Norwegian and grew up in Norway in a tiny seaside village. We always played by the sea, going rowing in a little boat and fishing. Nothing bad has ever happened "waterwise" to anyone I have ever known. I think it's probably a good idea to supervise kids in the sea until they are confident swimming, and not to let them go swimming etc alone. I feel that many people, especially what I have experienced in the UK, is too scared of the outdoors, and won't let their kids do anything on their own incase they might get harmed. Mind, the North Sea doesn't have any strong currents or anything like a river would have, but I know lots of people who played in the rivers when growing up too. It all depends on the child, and what they are capable of.

My son and his friends are having a great time swimming in our local river. People have swum there for years and I am happy that it's safe.
There are several points along the river where people safely swim and I think it's great.
It's knowing where is safe.