Water safety advice during hot weather

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police is offering advice and reminding people of the dangers of swimming in open water.

As summer temperatures soar, taking a cooling dip in the water is an obvious temptation, but one that often hides much less obvious dangers to your safety.

According to the Royal Life Saving Society, 85 per cent of accidental drownings occur at open water sites such as lakes, rivers, canals, reservoirs and quarries. Bodies of water may look safe, but can hide dangers such as hidden currents, hazardous objects, pollution and the ever present risk of cold water shock.

Cold water shock affects a person's ability to swim and reach safety if experiencing difficulties. It is a common problem in the UK where water temperatures do not rise significantly throughout the year, and can have severe affects on your body in as little as three minutes.

Immersion in cold water leads to rapid cooling of the skin, gasping, hyperventilation and the restriction of blood flow. This in turn can lead to panic as muscle strength decreases due to lack of blood flow, causing fatigue and reduced control over body movements.

The longer you are in the water, the greater your chance of hypothermia as core body temperature drops to a dangerous level.