Swim school warns of open water dangers amid mini heatwave
We should look out for children and animals in particular
Last updated 30th Apr 2025
With the temperatures soaring this week, people in Swindon are being urged to act responsibly around open waters.
Lakes and rivers have not had enough time to heat up yet and swimming in cold water can be very dangerous.
According to the National Water Safety Forum, around 400 people in Britain drown in open waters every year.
Cheryl Pottinger, GLL’s swim school lead for the Swindon area and inclusion swimming specialist at the Link Centre, told Greatest Hits Radio: “People think ‘Oh, it's a nice sunny day, I'm going to get in the water and cool off’. And they don't appreciate that that water is not as warm as it looks.
“So, they can suffer from something called cold water shock, which is when you get into the water suddenly and then it takes your breath away.”
Not just the water itself but its surroundings can pose threats as well.
Often it is hard to tell how deep a body of water is or what lurks underneath the surface, but there are also dangers in getting too close to the edge.
'Be aware of your surroundings'
“The main thing to remember when we're going by open water is to be aware of your surroundings and be aware of where you're walking.
“It might not always look like you're walking near the water's edge, but it might be closer than it might look. You could think you’re walking on reeds or grass, but actually there's water underneath”, Ms Pottinger added.
“Also be aware of animals because a lot of incidents that have happened are due to dogs going into the water and then owners going in after them.”
The best way to tell if a water is suitable for swimming, are the red and yellow flags which can be found at many beaches and lakes and which indicate that a lifeguard has deemed them safe.
During swim lessons at the Dorcan Health & Recreation Complex and the Link Centre, children and adults are told how to behave correctly around bodies of water.
This also includes gaining an understanding of what to do if a friend or even their pet falls in.
“We educate the children that if you were to jump or fall in, then to roll over onto your back and float and then how to shout for help and get people to help you”, explained Ms Pottinger.
“We also talk about if one of their friends was to get into trouble in the water because it's not always safe to jump in after them. So, we talk about what equipment can we use to rescue them, such as ropes, taking a jumper off, passing lifebuoys out to them which are quite often around.”
If you witness someone struggling to get out of the water, you should call 999 for help.