River Swimming

[Onthedancefloor]

DS was out with his friends today, they meet up out on their bikes. They are all 13-14. DS told me that they'd been swimming in the river. They are all strong swimmers, most of them have swum in competitions. However my instinct is to say they shouldn't be swimming in the river at all, as we don't know what the currents are like, or what debris they could get caught on.

I'm really torn, as I love swimming in the sea and lakes, following precautions though, like staying within your depth, having other people around in case you get in difficulties.

My instinct is to say that they shouldn't be swimming, but not sure whether I'm being a killjoy.

I did a 2.5 km river swim this morning. There were 6 of us. I wore a wet suit, swimming boots and gloves. I have a bright safety float attached to me (as do my friends). It’s a stretch of river we know which is popular with swimmers. My kids have been river swimming with me and friends and their parents since small - they know to walk in, they know when our local river is running fast, they always check in before going and to take a phone. It’s as safe as swimming ever is. I wouldn’t let them go if we weren’t all experienced and I thought they didn’t appreciate the dangers.

There are also misconceptions. More people die climbing Snowden (which has a railway station) than swimming in rivers. This puts it in perspective. Most water deaths and drownings are alcohol related.

In the three year period between 1999 and 2001 there was one death from Weil's disease in England and Wales.

Misinformation is used to put people off but the facts are not quite as scary as the perception. Obviously estuaries and unknown waters come with risks but it s whole lot safer swimming in open water than riding a bicycle.

www.river-swimming.co.uk/stats.htm

I swim a lot outdoors, can you look and see if there are any managed open water venues near you? Around here several spots are managed by Love Open Water, so they are lifeguarded, water quality is tested etc. You have to pay, but it’s a good way to swim safely outdoors. I know a lot of these venues are opening up now - our local ones (in London - and yes parts of the Thames are perfectly clean to swim in) are open and several others are planning on opening in the next week or two.

I also thought you could book him in to an open water training session (our local open water venue does these and covers things like entering the water and acclimatising but also equipment to have etc). You could also make sure he has basic safety equipment if he’s going to swim outdoors - I’d say at least a tow float.

In short, I wouldn’t let a teen swim outdoors in a completely unmanaged way, but in a safe and managed venue or a safe wild swimming spot it might be doable.

I'm near the Mersey near Northenden/Chorlton. There's no way swimming in it is a good idea. Strong swimmer or not.

Salford quays is open to swim salfordwatersports.com/activities/open-water-swimming/

Well that interpretation doesn't help CherryPavlova as of course many millions more bike trips are taken than people swimming in rivers.

As @FarTooMuchWashing and others have said, there are ways to swim safely, but a group of teenagers who have gone for a bike ride, felt hot and thought 'Ooh that looks fun' isn't one of them. People saying 'I've swum in rivers and been fine isn't really that helpful when trying to teach young teens to risk assess with some actual facts.

I grew up river swimming. My children have always swum in our local rivers (there are places called swimming holes where it's deep enough to swim, the rest is mostly shallow). They've grown up knowing when you shouldn't go in (if the river is running high, if you are alone, if you are ill or drunk) and, to be honest, a picnic by the river with swimming was a day out when they were younger - our local beaches tend to get packed and are a lot less safe than the river!

BackforGood I don't think I'm suggesting 'off you go, you'll be fine' but youngsters need opportunity for risk taking and fun. Swimming outdoors often provides that but clearly in known waters and with reasonable assessment. Just dismissing it as 'far too dangerous' is as silly as grave stoning off the Durdle Door. What the statistics show is that its not especially dangerous when alcohol is taken out of the equation. The Mersey may well not be safe but there are plenty f rivers that are. It used to juts be called swimming not wild swimming and the UK is far behind most of Europe in encouraging outdoor swimming and all the benefits it brings.

We live by a river and the boys used to river swim until they got some horrible virus and threw up for 4 days.... they don't swim in the river anymore

I grew up river swimming.

Me and DH are the same. We have been doing it all our lives, both here and abroad, and have never had any ill effects. Obviously, a degree of common sense needs to be exercised as to when and where.

I’m near a bit that’s fast flowing too. Not Didsbury though. Can’t say the Mersey has ever appealed for a swim but I’ve seen people canoeing on it.

@nutkin7 where would you suggest?

OP if you think there is a risk of him going in anyway, could you get him a puffin tow float?

@TazSyd Sale water park has a big outdoor pond / lake and they've got wetsuits etc for hire. Also you can go open water swimming in a section of Salford quays near the BBC. They'll be plenty of other places nearby too, I just don't know about them!

www.swimthelakes.co.uk/product/puffin-billy-eco15-drybag-tow-float/

These, for anyone interested. I love mine. I bought it on holiday in the lakes a couple of years ago and it makes me feel so much safer.

Thanks @nutkin7.

Signs up near my local river about toxic blue green algae

I do actually know two boys (one was a friend of DS, one came to our church) both under 13, who have drowned swimming in ponds, in separate incidents, so the risk feels very real to me.

I think this is a very difficult risk to balance because telling teenagers "no, full stop, end of story" just leads to them not telling you.

I had a very scary near drowning experience swimming across what I thought (told by a local) was a bay, aged 19. Turns out they didn't know what they were on about and it was actually an estuary. I was ultimately fine and got back safely but I didn't tell my mum and dad for 4 or 5 years because I thought they would freak out.

In reality, and retrospectively, I should have taken a map and checked the map. Then I would have seen it was 2km, not 500m as we guessed, and that it was an estuary.

I still go swimming, actually mainly in the sea for me, as I later had the worst stomach bug of my life doing a 2.5km river swim. That would be what put me off swimming most, unless it was a lovely clear looking river without too much field run off.

Equally I have had loads of fun swimming in rivers and the sea, swinging off swings, jumping in, and even swimming during a thunderstorm. A lot of it probably stupid but some of my best memories as a youngster. So I think the posts about teaching how to swim safely are probably most sensible.

There definitely are safer swimming spots in rivers, and I think it's fine so long as they've been properly checked out and, crucially, an adult is supervising.

I grew up in a rural area and used to go river swimming as a kid sometimes with a friend. I remember the first time, I told my dad afterwards and he went absolutely mental. He had a point of course and looking back I totally understand why he was so angry -he was scared that I could have died - and I definitely wouldn't be happy if my 13 year old did the same thing. But the swimming itself was so lovely - cutting through the cool water, sunlight dappling through the trees. Worth the bollocking, I remember thinking. And I did it again quite a few times after that but just didn't tell him about it.

I would only be happy if it was an acknowledged safe place.

I swim in the sea, rivers, lakes, billabongs, wherever, but I do my research first.