Whether you’re wanting to regularly go open water swimming and just taking a one off dip in the cool water on a hot day, you need to be aware of the dangers and how to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Following the steps in this blog and preparing for your swim will reduce the risks that come with being in open water. So you can just focus on enjoying your swim.
Is Swimming in Open Water Safe?
Naturally, swimming in open water is not as safe as swimming in your local indoor pool. However, open water swimming can be safe if you are sensible and follow the safety tips outlined below.
What are the Dangers of Open Water Swimming?
There are multiple things that can happen while you’re out in the water that could cause you to lose control and struggle to get back to shore. Not only can the weather and water conditions change very quickly, but you could also suffer cramp or fatigue while on your swim.
You need to be aware of the variety of hazards that could be in the water and prepare for how to deal with them. Hazards could include:
- Watercraft: Jet skis, boats, etc.
- Marine animals: Sharks, weaver fish, jellyfish, etc.
- Weeds and marine plants.
- Other swimmers.
- Debris: Logs etc.
Swimming in open water also comes with risks of illness and infection from:
- Toxic algae.
Swimming in open water is cold. This can affect your ability to move and breathe and has health risks like:
- Cold water shock.
Our Open Water Swimming Safety Tips:
One of the main ways to stay safe in the water is to have the right equipment with you. The safety equipment we recommend includes:
- Tow float/dry bag: This helps others see you in the water (the brighter the better). It will also act as a buoyancy support in an emergency.
- Bright swim cap: Making you visible in the water to others (including boats, swimmers, and rescue teams).
- Wetsuit: Letting in a small amount of water that quickly warms up, wetsuits create a barrier between your body and the cold open water.
- Light and whistle: Making it easy to attract attention if you need help.
- Ear plugs, nose clip and goggles: Protecting you from any pollutants and bacteria in the water.
- Waterproof phone case: So you can bring your phone on your swim to call for help in an emergency. Remember that your phone will still try to connect you to emergency services when you call 999, even if you don’t have a signal.
Choosing the right location for your open water swim is also important. We recommend always swimming at a beach or open water swimming location that is supervised by lifeguards. This ensures that if you get into trouble, you can signal for help and rescuers can get to you quickly.
If you do decide not to swim at a supervised location, always tell someone where you are going and what time you will be back from your swim. This means that if you don’t return, someone will know where to send help to look for you.
Wherever you go to swim, always look out for no swimming signs. These signs are there for a reason and need to be respected.
While deciding on your swim location, you should also research any potential hazards that you might come across. Some things to consider:
- Will there be any jellyfish at this beach at this time of year?
- Is there a specific swimming area or an area I should avoid at this open water venue?
- What is the current water quality at this location?
Water and Weather Conditions
Once you’ve decided where and when to swim, check the weather forecast to ensure the weather will stay calm throughout your swim. Although it is useful to check the forecast, the weather can still be unpredictable so be prepared to head back to land if the weather begins to worsen.
It is also important to check the water conditions and any ripides or rip currents that you could come across. Knowing how to get out of difficulty in these situations is vital. Here are the main things you should remember:
- The current is stronger than you. Swimming against the current (directly towards shore) will just waste your energy.
- If you are in the shallows, stand up and walk out of the current.
- If you cannot stand, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the riptide or rip current.
- If you need a moment to calm down or rest, roll onto your back and float before trying again to signal for help and get out of the difficult area of water.
Awareness of your Surroundings
Before heading into the water at your swimming location, we recommend doing a few checks first.
- Make sure there aren’t any no swimming signs.
- Check to see if you can see any hazards in the water.
- Make sure you know where you can safely exit the water. Trying to get out of the water in muddy areas or somewhere with steep slopes can be difficult. If there isn’t a safe exit point, don’t get in the water.
To avoid health risks due to the cold water temperature, there are two things to remember. Firstly, the colder the water, the less time you should spend in the water. This will reduce the risk of hypothermia and afterdrop.
Second, never jump into cold water. Being suddenly submerged in cold water can cause your body to go into shock, resulting in difficulty breathing and moving. Instead, you should always slowly acclimatise yourself to the water temperature by slowly walking into the water.
If you happen to accidentally fall into cold water, don’t panic. You need to fight your urge to try and swim and instead roll onto your back. Floating on your back gives your body time to get over the initial shock and gives you time to calm down and control your breathing. It will then be easier for you to call for help.
Overall, swimming in open water does have its risks. But it also has great benefits that you don’t have to miss out on just because of the risks. Follow the steps we’ve outlined and you can safely enjoy your open water swim.Want to start getting ready for your open water swim safely? Check out our safety equipment today.
Ikiwa unataka kwenda kuogelea mara kwa mara na kuchukua kuogelea mara moja katika maji baridi siku ya joto, unahitaji kuwa na ufahamu wa hatari na jinsi ya kujihifadhi na wale walio karibu nawe. Kufuata hatua zilizoorodheshwa hapa na kujiandaa kwa ajili ya kuogelea yako itapunguza hatari zinazohusiana na kuwa katika maji ya wazi. Kwa hiyo unaweza tu kuzingatia kufurahia kuogelea kwako. Je, Ni Salama Kuogelea Katika Maji ya Wazi? Kwa kawaida, kuogelea katika maji ya wazi si salama kama kuogelea katika dimbwi lako la ndani. Hata hivyo, kuogelea katika maji ya wazi kunaweza kuwa salama ikiwa una akili na kufuata mapendekezo ya usalama yaliyotajwa hapa chini. Ni Hatari Zipi za Kuogelea Katika Maji ya Wazi? Kuna mambo mengi ambayo yanaweza kutokea wakati wewe ni nje katika maji ambayo inaweza kusababisha wewe kupoteza udhibiti na mapambano ya kupata nyuma ya pwani. Hali ya hewa na maji yanaweza kubadilika haraka, na unaweza pia kupata maumivu makali au uchovu wakati wa kuogelea. Unahitaji kujua hatari nyingi ambazo zinaweza kutokea kwenye maji na kuwa tayari kukabiliana nazo. Hatari inaweza ni pamoja na: - Watercraft: Jet skis, mashua, nk. - Wanyama wa baharini: Sharks, weaver samaki, jellyfish, nk. - Magugu na mimea ya baharini. - Waogeleaji wengine. - Mabaki: Magogo na kadhalika. Kuogelea katika maji ya wazi pia kunasababisha hatari ya magonjwa na maambukizo kutokana na: - Algae zenye sumu. Kuogelea katika maji ya wazi ni baridi. Hii inaweza kuathiri uwezo wako wa kusonga na kupumua na ina hatari za afya kama vile: - mshtuko wa maji baridi. Kwa mfano, unaweza kutumia mbinu za kuogelea za maji wazi, lakini njia bora ya kuepuka kuogelea ni kuwa na vifaa sahihi. Vifaa vya usalama tunavyopendekeza ni pamoja na: - To float/dry bag: Hii husaidia wengine kukuona majini (ng'ao mwanga zaidi ni bora). Pia itatumika kama msaada wa kuelea katika hali ya dharura. - Kofia ya kuogelea yenye kung'aa: Inakufanya uonekane majini kwa wengine (ikiwa ni pamoja na mashua, waogeleaji, na timu za uokoaji). - Wetsuits: kuruhusu katika kiasi kidogo cha maji ambayo haraka joto juu, wetsuits kujenga kizuizi kati ya mwili wako na maji baridi wazi. - Nuru na filimbi: Kufanya kuwa rahisi kuvutia tahadhari kama unahitaji msaada. - Vifuniko vya masikio, vifungo vya pua na miwani: Kukuhifadhi dhidi ya uchafuzi wowote na bakteria katika maji. - Waterproof simu kesi: Hivyo unaweza kuleta simu yako juu ya kuogelea yako wito kwa msaada katika dharura. Kumbuka kwamba simu yako itaendelea kujaribu kuunganisha huduma za dharura wakati unapopiga simu ya 999, hata kama hauna ishara. Pia ni muhimu kuchagua mahali panapofaa pa kuogelea katika maji ya wazi. Wakati mwingine ni bora kuogelea kwenye pwani au mahali pa kuogelea kwa maji ya wazi, ambayo hufuatwa na walinzi wa kuokoa. Hii inahakikisha kwamba ikiwa utapata shida, unaweza kutoa ishara ya kuomba msaada na waokoaji wanaweza kufika kwako haraka. Ikiwa unaamua kutogelea mahali palipoangaliwa, sikuzote mwambie mtu unakokwenda na ni saa ngapi utarudi kutoka kuogelea. Hii inamaanisha kwamba ikiwa hautarudi, mtu atajua mahali pa kutuma msaada kukutafuta. Mahali popote unapoenda kuogelea, sikuzote angalia ishara za kuogelea. Ishara hizo zipo kwa sababu fulani na zinahitaji kuheshimiwa. Wakati wa kuamua mahali pa kuogelea, unapaswa pia kuchunguza hatari zozote unazoweza kukutana nazo. Mambo fulani ya kufikiria: - Je, kutakuwa na samaki aina ya jellyfish kwenye ufuo huu wakati huu wa mwaka? - Je, kuna eneo maalum la kuogelea au eneo ninapaswa kuepuka katika eneo hili la maji ya wazi? - Ubora wa maji katika eneo hili kwa sasa ni nini? Maji na Hali ya Hali ya Hewa Mara baada ya kuamua ambapo na wakati wa kuogelea, angalia utabiri wa hali ya hewa ili kuhakikisha hali ya hewa itabaki utulivu wakati wote wa kuogelea. Ingawa ni muhimu kuangalia utabiri wa hali ya hewa, hali ya hewa bado inaweza kuwa isiyotabirika, kwa hivyo kuwa tayari kurudi nchi kavu ikiwa hali ya hewa inaanza kuwa mbaya. Pia ni muhimu kuangalia hali ya maji na yoyote ripides au rip mikondo kwamba unaweza kuja juu. Kujua jinsi ya kutoroka katika hali hizo ni muhimu sana. Hapa ni mambo makuu unapaswa kukumbuka: - Mtiririko ni nguvu kuliko wewe. Kuogelea kinyume cha mkondo (moja kwa moja kuelekea ufuoni) kutapoteza tu nishati yako. - Ikiwa uko katika maji yasiyo na kina kirefu, simama na kutembea nje ya mkondo. - Ikiwa huwezi kusimama, kuogelea sambamba na pwani mpaka wewe ni nje ya riptide au rip sasa. Ikiwa unahitaji muda wa kupumzika au kupumzika, piga mgongo wako na uvute kabla ya kujaribu tena kutoa ishara ya msaada na kutoka katika eneo gumu la maji. Kabla ya kuingia ndani ya maji katika eneo lako la kuogelea, tunapendekeza ufanye ukaguzi wachache kwanza. - Hakikisha hakuna ishara yoyote ya kuogelea. - Angalia ikiwa unaweza kuona hatari zozote majini. - Hakikisha unajua mahali ambapo unaweza kutoka majini kwa usalama. Jitihada za kutoka majini katika maeneo yenye matope au mahali penye mteremko mkali zaweza kuwa ngumu. Ikiwa hakuna njia salama ya kutoka, usijiunge na maji. Ili kuepuka hatari za kiafya kutokana na joto la maji baridi, kuna mambo mawili ya kukumbuka. Kwanza, kadiri maji yalivyo baridi, ndivyo unavyopaswa kutumia muda mdogo zaidi ndani ya maji. Hii itapunguza hatari ya hypothermia na afterdrop. Pili, usiruke kamwe ndani ya maji baridi. Kuanguka ghafula ndani ya maji baridi kunaweza kusababisha mwili wako kuanguka, na kusababisha shida ya kupumua na kusonga. Badala yake, unapaswa daima kujipatanisha polepole na joto la maji kwa kutembea polepole ndani ya maji. Ikiwa kwa aksidenti utaanguka ndani ya maji baridi, usishangae. Unahitaji kupambana na hamu yako ya kujaribu kuogelea na badala yake kuzunguka juu ya mgongo wako. Kuelea juu ya mgongo wako hutoa mwili wako wakati wa kupata juu ya mshtuko wa awali na kukupa muda wa kutulia na kudhibiti pumzi yako. Kisha itakuwa rahisi kwako kuomba msaada. Kwa ujumla, kuogelea katika maji ya wazi kuna hatari zake. Lakini pia ina faida kubwa kwamba huna kukosa nje tu kwa sababu ya hatari. Kufuata hatua tulizotaja na unaweza salama kufurahia maji ya wazi kuogelea.Unataka kuanza kujiandaa kwa ajili ya maji ya wazi kuogelea salama? Angalia vifaa vyetu vya usalama leo.