Water safety warning as summer holidays begin

While swimmers are the main focus following several high profile deaths last summer and another earlier this year, officers are also keen to highlight the risks to those walking or running alongside rivers and other water courses. That is because they and other people engaged in waterside activities, such as angling, account for the largest proportion of water related deaths in the UK.

Every summer police receive calls about people jumping off bridges into rivers to cool off and getting into difficulty while swimming in reservoirs, pools, lakes, quarries and canals.

In July 2013 there were three open water deaths within the space of a week in West Mercia, of which two were at Gullet Quarry, Hollybush, in the Malvern Hills and the other at the River Severn in Bridgnorth. In March this year (2014) there was a further tragedy at Redditch where a 15-year-old boy lost his life after getting into difficulties while swimming with friends in the River Arrow.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) says that 85 per cent of accidental drownings here happen in open water, often due to a lack of understanding or awareness of the dangers at such locations.

Superintendent Mark Travis said: “It might be very inviting in warm weather but swimming in unauthorised and unsupervised stretches of river or other open water is fraught with danger. The deaths we have experienced locally over the past year are a stark illustration of just how hazardous it can be.

“While those dangers are ever-present we are keen to highlight it now that the schools are breaking up for summer and children will have more time on their hands. A hot spell usually results in some youngsters making a beeline for stretches of open water and they need to be aware of the risks.

“It is often impossible to gauge the depths of these waters and the strength of currents. Where water levels are unknown, jumping or diving in can cause serious injury or drowning, especially if there are submerged rocks, weeds or other debris.

“There is also a misconception that drowning tragedies usually involve people who are poor swimmers. In fact the shock of sudden cold water immersion or inhalation can cause instant death due to a condition known as vagal inhibition or ‘reflex cardiac arrest’.

“This has been attributed as a cause of cold water deaths and can affect the strongest of swimmers and the fittest of people. A sudden attack of cramp due to the cold is another potential killer that can affect anyone.”

The banks of rivers and pools can add to the danger when they become slippery, making it difficult for people to get back out of the water
Supt Travis appealed for parents to ensure their children were educated about the dangers and to be aware of where their youngsters were playing when out of sight.

He added: “We don’t want to appear to be killjoys but people need to be encouraged to stay safe – we really don’t want any more fatalities.

“Unless there is adequate supervision and rescue cover our advice would be not to get into open water in the first place and if you need to cool off head for a public swimming pool instead.”