Top tips for safe open water swimming

Today, more than ever, many of us are taking the plunge and enjoying the benefits of open water swimming at all times of the year, so it’s important to make sure that you understand how to enjoy the water safely.

Here are a few tips from our friends at the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) on how you can stay safe and make the most of your time in the water.

Top Tips for safe open water swimming

Our inland open water may appear inviting, especially on hot summer days, but there are often hidden dangers which it’s important to be aware of.

Stay safe when you go open water swimming. Check the weather forecast and tides before you go. Choose a lifeguarded venue. Never swim alone - always take someone with you. Wear the right kit to keep you warm and visible while out in the open water. In an emergency, stay calm, float and call for help.

51 children have drowned in inland open water, such as rivers, lakes and canals in the last four years. This includes 20 children in 2022-23 when the UK recorded some record high temperatures.

  • The water may be deep and can be very cold, even during spells of warm weather
  • There may be strong currents which can be a challenge the strongest of swimmers, especially when combined with the deep cold water
  • There may be objects and hazards hidden under the water, which can pose a threat
  • Steep and slippery banks could make it difficult to get back out of the water
  • Water quality, e.g. toxic algal blooms and industrial/agricultural pollution

To enjoy open water safely, RLSS UK has the following recommendations: 

Learn the Water Safety Code

Ensure that your family are familiar with the Water Safety Code, and practise the floating position whenever possible. With statutory swimming outcomes in decline, RLSS UK encourages all parents to talk to their children about water safety.

Watch the RLSS UK’s Water Safety Code cartoon together, or download free activity sheets and other resources on their website.

Look for a lifeguard

Whilst it can be tempting to ‘just jump in’ on a hot day, you should always use a lifeguarded venue where possible. With the popularity of open water swimming surging, there are now a growing number of professionally lifeguarded open water venues around the UK and Ireland.

Go together

Not only is it more fun to go swimming with friends or family, but it is also much safer, as there will always be someone to help in case of an emergency. Additionally, you should always let someone at home know where you are swimming and when you expect to get back.

Know when NOT to go

Before you set out for your swim, you should always check the latest Met Office weather information and the water temperature, quality and tide times. Swimming during storms, heavy rain or strong winds can be dangerous due to the increased risk of lightning strikes, strong currents, and rough water conditions. Water quality can be another risk - if it looks or smells unusual then don’t go in.

Ensure you’re well-equipped

It is vital that when swimming in open water, that you wear a wetsuit, tow float, or ideally – both.  Wetsuits not only keep you warmer, but also provide some buoyancy. Tow floats provide buoyancy, visibility and often also somewhere waterproof to store your phone in case of an emergency. We also recommend that you choose a brightly-coloured swimming hat so that other swimmers and lifeguards can more easily see you in open water.

Make sure you also take with you lots of warm clothes and a hot drink for after your swim. You should start getting warm straight away, then get moving! Going for a walk is one of the best ways to warm your body back up.

Know your limits

Never push yourself to swim further than you’re comfortable with in areas of open water and make sure you have researched the best exit points before you enter the water. Learn how to recognise if you’re too cold, to avoid the risk of cold water shock. If you start shivering, feeling weak or disorientated, start taking in water or experience a shortness of breath, these are all signals that it’s time to exit the water as soon as possible.

If you’re new to open water swimming, RLSS UK’s ‘Sponge to Plunge’ cold water exposure programme is fantastic tool to help you acclimatise.

In an emergency, follow the Water Safety Code

If you find yourself in trouble or feel overwhelmed in open water you should follow the Water Safety Code.

  • Stay calm
  • Float on your back with your ears submerged
  • When you’ve controlled your breathing, shout for help, or take steps to get out.

If you see someone else in difficulty, reassure then and tell them to stay calm and float to control their breathing. Do not enter the water yourself. Instead, call 999 for the emergency services (if at the coast ask for the Coastguard). Look out for any water rescue equipment that could help them but never take your eyes off them.