Broads Authority issue safety reminder as warmer weather arrives
People visiting the Broads this summer are being reminded about potential dangers.
The Broads Authority has issued a reminder ahead of the summer about the potential dangers when around open water.
The National Park is generally a safe place to visit and is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, but the authority wants to remind people how quickly things can change when near water.
Paddlesports
It comes after a huge surge in the popularity of water sports including kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding.
The Broads Authority is urging anyone taking part in paddlesports to wear an appropriate buoyancy aid such as a life jacket or paddleboard tether, choose quieter stretches of the river, and make themselves aware of what to do if they capsize/enter the water.
Motor cruisers
For those heading out on motor cruisers, it's recommended that everyone on board wears a life jacket at all times.
Whether experienced boaters or first-timers, occupants should pay particular attention to avoiding the back of the vessel where the propeller is located, and should also watch their footing when stepping off/on the vessel whilst mooring up, as this is when the vast majority of people fall into the water.
It is also not advisable to consume excessive amounts of alcohol or other substances whilst near the water, as it can severely impact your chances of survival if something was to go wrong.
Wild swimming
Furthermore, each year many visitors are tempted to enter the water and go wild-swimming in the Broads.
The Authority strongly urges against this unless part of an organised event, as inexperienced swimmers may get into difficulties with other river traffic, face strong tidal currents and become entangled in water plants or deep mud.
Swimmers should always make themselves as visible as possible by wearing a brightly-coloured cap or float, and again should strongly avoid busy stretches of water.
What do I do if I fall in?
If you do enter the water, try to remain calm and focus on floating whilst your body adjusts to the cold temperature of the water.
You should then try to swim or move to the edge of the river, or wait for assistance in the form of a life ring or throw line.
This summer there is due to be an increased Broads Authority Ranger presence patrolling on the water, with the authority working closely with Broads Beat, the RNLI and Coastguard.