Cros By Marina Club - Marina Club In Crosby For Boats And Boat Owners

The Importance Of Water Safety

The Importance Of Water Safety

Water safety is an important factor that needs to be taken into consideration for anyone visiting the marina as well as people visiting the sea nearby. At the marina we take care and ensure that all out visitors are notified about our water safety standards as well as briefing them on what they should do in the case of an emergency.

What Makes Water Dangerous?

Overall there are a range of different factors that can be attributed to making water dangerous overall. One of the most notable factors amongst these is water temperature. Often open areas with water such as lakes , rivers and the sea are exposed to considerably colder temperatures than enclosed or indoor bodies of water.

This means they will be far colder and may cause some swimmers to go into shock if they are not wearing adequate insulation when they swim. Shock is one of the biggest killers of people in the water as it leads to panic which can cause people to make their overall predicament worse and use valuable energy unnecessarily.

Another factor that can make water dangerous is the dangers hidden underneath. Often water can appear shallower than it actually is due to the way light is reflected on the surface. It may appear shallow but could be deeper and have dangers lurking underneath such as weeds and scrap metal which could injure or trap people in the water.

What Makes The Sea Dangerous?

The sea is a vast body of water which can be prone to unpredictable weather across the globe. There are many different factors that overall contribute to the sea being dangerous. One of the most prominent and well known is the seas currents.

Currents are the flow of water that pushes and pulls water towards and away from the beach. Currents are also found in rivers and channel water in one direction normally downriver towards the sea.

One of the most dangerous aspects of the sea associated with currents are rip currents a.k.a riptides. Riptides are essentially funnels of water that carry water out to sea via narrow channels under the water. Rips are extremely dangerous as they can carry people out to sea within minutes and are virtually impossible to swim directly against as the current is so powerful.

The best thing you can do when cap in a rip is to swim parrallel to the shore until you are out of the rip. Try to conserve energy where possible , stay calm and if you have a float or surfboard make sure you keep hold of it.

Key Safety Tips For Being Around Water

  • Be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards
  • Always ensure children are supervised
  • Let friends or family know where you are going and leave contact details before setting out
  • Try and use beaches for swimming or surfing with designated lifeguards
  • Never underestimate the water and the power of the currents
  • Wear appropriate gear w.g wet suits or dry suits
  • Ensure you check conditions beforehand prior to entering the sea