How to stay safe around water in the hot weather

We've waited quite some time for the sun to get its hat on this year, and now the hot weather has arrived, many have been rushing to cool off in the nearest lake, river or sea.

But in the quest to chill down, we can forget how important it is to stay safe in open water. And the consequences can be horrific.

According to stats from National Water Safety on average 400 people accidentally drown in the UK each year with many more suffer life-changing injuries after getting into difficulties in open water.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) says all UK bodies of water presents hazards and though they believe that being able to swim is the first defence against drowning, water has invisible dangers like strong currents, sudden changes in depth and temperature, debris and cold water shock, which can catch out even strong swimmers.

RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) campaign (17-24 June) is urging the public to minimise the risks by taking charge of their safety this year and learning some basic water safety skills before they venture near the waves (or ripples).

Read more: What temperature should my home be this summer?

Beware of cold water shock

Ross Macleod, water safety manager at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) says one of the biggest risks at this time of year is cold water shock.

"It's really important for people to remember the air temperature can warm up really quickly, but water temperature will take quite a long time to heat up," he says.

"This can cause a real risk of cold water shock, which is a physiological reaction caused by a sudden change in temperature."

Macleod says the sudden change in temperature can send your heart rate soaring and may cause you to lose control of your breathing.

"This can be really dangerous in the water environment because if you can't control your breathing, you can take water into your lungs," he adds.

"In very extreme situations, if that involuntary gasp comes when under the water, it can lead to people not resurfacing again because they take a lungful of water."

Watch: Top tips for wild swimming

Macleod says there is also a small risk that for some people who may be unwittingly suffering with underlying heart conditions, the sudden shock can send them into cardiac arrest.

The only way to mitigate against cold water shock is regular exposure to cold water.

One of the key things you can do is acclimatise slowly, so walk into the water where possible – don’t jump head first, but just let your body get used to the water.

"Even better is to wear a wetsuit, this reduces the risk of cold water shock but also helps you float because wetsuits are made of neoprene, which is a buoyant material," Macleod continues.

Read more: Heatstroke vs heat exhaustion

Be mindful of rip currents

Rip currents are currents of water typically flowing from the shoreline back out to sea. They are commonly formed by a build-up of water on the beach caused by wave and tidal motion, but can also form where an estuary runs into the sea.

If you get caught in a rip current the RLSS UK recommends the following:

• Call for help

• If you have a buoyant aid (like a surfboard or inflatable), keep hold of it

• Do not swim against the current

• Swim parallel to the shore – this makes sure that you are swimming out of and not back into the rip current

• Once out of the rip current, swim towards the shore, being careful to avoid being drawn back in by feeder currents

Consider what's under the water

One of the risks of jumping in from height, often known as "tombstoning", is not knowing how deep the water is or what is beneath the surface.

"In a river environment or a canal, there could be currents which could sweep you away to deeper waters," Macleod explains.

"In coastal environments, you’ve got the tide - so a place that may have been safe enough to jump at high tide can at low tide be extremely dangerous. That’s when you get the risk of impact injuries."

The main advice is it’s never a good idea to jump from height into the water, but if you are going to jump in, Macleod recommends checking what's underneath and acclimatising to the temperature of the water first.

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What to do if you get into difficulties

The RNLI has been running a campaign called Float to Live, which has already helped to save 25-30 lives.

"If you are unlucky enough to get caught up in some sort of difficulty, lie back, extend your arms and legs like a starfish, and just rest and relax in the water until you get control of your breathing or you calm down," Macleod explains.

"This technique is really to try and encourage people not to panic because panic can be one of the biggest killers in the water."

Macleod suggests those who do get into difficulty should adopt the technique until they've got control of their breathing and gathered their thoughts which allows them to swim to safety.

"Or you can just continue to float until help arrives," he adds.