Cold water shock warning as bathing areas reopen
Water Safety Ireland has warned that cold water, the main factor in drownings, will put lives at risk as we enter ‘Phase One’ of the government’s ‘Roadmap for Reopening Society & Business.
‘People need to be mindful of the HSE & government guidelines regarding travel, exercise and social distancing,’ the organisation has warned.
On average, five people drown in Ireland every fortnight (124 every year). The shock of cold water immersion and the onset of hypothermia are two factors that will put people at risk when visiting coastlines and inland waterways for their swim.
The lifeguard service will not be in place until the end of the May and then for weekends only during June.
WSI say people must be responsible for themselves and family around water, by knowing the dangers and learning from previous situations that have led to tragic drownings:
Swimmers must adhere to the guidelines on social distancing and stay within five kilometres of their home.
Swimmers should swim parallel and close to the shore, and be aware that water temperature, (11°C coastal, 14°C inland) is still too cold for extended swims.
‘Wear a wetsuit and swim within your depth and stay within your depth’ is the advice.
Children require constant uninterrupted supervision near water. Before you go for your swim, look at the online resources so they know what they are getting into:
Alcohol should be avoided before or during any aquatic activity. On average, a third of drowning victims had consumed alcohol.
Always wear a lifejacket when on or near water and when angling from shore, and ensure it is properly maintained and has a correctly fitted crotch strap.
Anyone going afloat should carry a portable Marine VHF and/or a personal locator beacon, and walkers should carry a mobile phone to call 112 in an emergency and ask for the Coast Guard.
Dangers of cold water immersion:
When cold water makes contact with your skin, the cold shock response causes an immediate loss of breathing control, possible dizziness and panic. This dramatically increases the risk of sudden drowning, even if the water is calm and you know how to swim.
For those who survive but are unable to get out of the water, progressive body cooling leads to hypothermia and muscle cooling, making swimming more difficult or impossible. Children cool even faster than adults because they are smaller and have less fat.
What to do if you fall in to cold water
Avoid swimming, stay calm and relax. Float or tread water and if possible get as much of your body out of the water because you will always cool faster in water than in air.
Wearing a lifejacket with a crotch strap will enable you to lessen heat escape by keeping your legs together and elbows by your side.
