Yorkshire Coast Boxing Day dippers urged to plan ahead and be sensible
The RNLI and Coastguard are issuing advice as many take part in dip events this weekend
People on the Yorkshire Coast who are brave enough to go for a Boxing Day dip are being urged to plan ahead and be sensible.
It comes from Coastguards and the RNLI as many usually take to the sea over the festive period to raise money for charity.
Whitby Lion's Club is holding an event on Sunday.
Nick Ayers, the RNLI's regional water safety lead here, says if anything goes wrong people need to be calm and call for help:
"Float on your back, let your breathing regain and sort of controlled and if you do get into trouble, call 999. We ask people to do that if they spot someone in trouble in the water is to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard immediately. Don't go in after that person in the water but try and throw them something that floats like a life ring.
"Cold water shock is normally triggered by unexpected entry into the water. However it's the similar sort of experience that people get; a risk of hypothermia, increase in pulse rate, increase in blood pressure and putting a strain on your heart that can cause lots of different factors when you're in cold water.
"Take plenty of warm clothes before and after your dip as when you're coming out of water, especially cold water, you feel quite warm and that can lead you into a false sense of security, so really think about what you're putting on straight away after your swim. Warm up slowly by sipping on a warm drink.
"Enjoy the activities that you're doing safely and know what to do if something does go wrong. Unfortunately festive swims do create some issues and call-outs so we're just asking people to really consider if you are going down to a festive swim, make sure it's part of an organised dip, don't go alone and especially under the influence of alcohol as well."
Find out more about Whitby's Boxing Day dip here.