To talk about water safety?

[TeddyIsaHe]

Two people in my county drowned this weekend, absolutely horrific news. A 30 year old woman swimming in the sea, and a 20 year old man in a reservoir.

Water safety is something that can be overlooked at times, especially when the weather is hot and the water looks calm.

My advice is: only swim in the sea if you are a strong swimmer, have a buoyancy aid (life jacket or similar) there is a trained lifeguard on site, you don’t swim further than you can still stand, are in a group of other strong swimmers, understand tides, riptides, reefs and how they all change currents.

Don’t swim in reservoirs, lakes or broads at all. The depth, what is lying underneath the surface, the temp change, your ability to swim can all add up to horrid results.

Ok, thank you for this.

It's a good reminder to even the most experienced swimmers.
Regardless of how hot the weather is reservoirs can still be so cold they'll take your breath away and you can't see what lurks beneath the surface

When I was at school every year someone would drown in the local river.

Thank you for your well intended advice.

However, it will have zero impact on this years' drowning numbers.

Four people drowned at Dutch seaside resorts on Sunday alone, all separate incidents. More than 270 people had to be pulled out the sea by the cost guards, and more than 50 needed life saving medical attention. Just on Sunday. I don't know how many people have drowned here in the last month. The beaches are flying warning flags because of the rip tides but people just ignore them.

I only ever swim in pools as I don't feel confident enough to swim in open water. My children are not strong swimmers so I have advised them to do the same. It always amazes me how confident people seem to be about swimming in the sea. It scares the crap out of me!