During hot and bothersome summer days or the cold days of adrenaline and fun chases, open-water swimming is a choice made by thousands of people every day. Whether you’re in a country with sea-sides and beaches and open oceans to swim in or a place with lakes and smaller bodies of water, to some people swimming is always tempting and a way to spend some calming time surrounded by nature and open-air breeze. Swimming is appealing to do on many occasions and days throughout the year but there are some things that everybody who wants to do such sports should keep in mind to stay safe.
There are varieties of rules and warnings that should be taken into consideration before going into any kind of open water, and a normal day at the lake has the possibility of turning fatal at the smallest of mistakes and a slip of caution. Listed below are some of those warnings and tips to have safe swims wherever you are.
Start with a known and easy-to-follow tip which is to check for and obey signboards that would be placed around lakes and beaches. Most of the better-known and major lakes around the world have their water quality tested, and in case of a high pollution level and/or the being of the creatures living there, swimming or doing any other water activity in them can be limited or prohibited. These types of signs can also warn the potential swimmers about the possibility of sudden and unannounced drop-offs, strong currents and riptides, and other dangers that can both harm the swimmer and the water life in the said body of water.
A way to avoid the above-listed things, it’s crucial to do research before going swimming to any open water. Aside from any other danger, small research done online can prevent getting surprised by things you wouldn’t want to come across in the first place. In most cases and places, the bigger known ‘dangers’ such as sharks or jellyfish or stingrays aren’t problems you could face, but seas have countless species of fish and crab types that may give you the ick, along with eels in certain places that would be better avoided; and in bodies of freshwater, it is not uncommon to encounter leeches and snakes and other types of creatures that you best avoid.
Another thing to be careful about is not jumping into the water straight up, for there can be either sharp or mossed-up rocks which can easily cause injuries no one wants. You don’t want to just get in your swimwear and run in nor do you want to uncaringly jump off a dock without being sure you wouldn’t inhale water and unaware of the height of the water, and you should also be mindful of how you jump.
In case your car slips or you get caught in a situation you can’t control, you should swim alone with no one around to see or help in an urgent condition. Look for designated swimming areas and lifeguards around.
While there are always more things to be mindful of while doing any kind of activity that involves the unpredictability of nature, only following basic common-sense tips and warnings could save you from lots of trouble that you’d rather not face. So, when swimming in open waters, always be careful and aware of your surroundings, and stay safe while having fun!
