24/05/2005 - With half
term week coming up and the summer months
to follow, the Environment Agency is asking
people who want to cool off to play it safe
with rivers, streams and beaches in the region.
Diving into watercourses to cool down sounds
very inviting but it can result in serious
injuries, and even death. There are often
hidden structures such as submerged concrete
parapets or objects like shopping trolleys
and stolen bicycles waiting to trap the unwary.
Similarly coastal defences such as stone
breakwaters are not designed for walking or
playing on and doing so can be dangerous.
You cannot judge the depth of water just
by looking at it and there are currents you
cannot see. Underwater machinery starts up
without warning.
Because the water in rivers, lakes and streams
is untreated it can harbour the leptospirosis
virus, spread by rat urine, which enters the
body through cuts, grazes or the mouth lining
causing Weil’s Disease and unless treated
in the early stages could be fatal. It causes
aches and pains, similar to ’flu, a couple
of weeks after infection.
Most people who drown in rivers can swim,
but die because of the shock of cold water
temporarily paralysing them. You might think
the warm weather will raise river temperatures
so the shock from cold water isn’t a risk,
but the water temperature doesn’t rise a great
deal because it is flowing and constantly
fed by underground sources.
High air temperatures such as those predicted
also mean the differential between the air
and water can be greater than normal.
Hidden dangers can cause broken legs and
other injuries or trap or entangle a swimmer
dragging them under the water.
Even playing in a group may not protect children,
as they often confuse thrashing about in the
water or disappearing under it as a game until
it’s too late.
Environment Agency Waterways Manager Irven
Forbes stresses the following message: "We
don’t want to sound like killjoys but this
is a very important safety message. The cost
of a quick dip could be a very high price
to pay – don’t swim in rivers, lakes or canals.
Be safe and have fun by using your local swimming
pool or designated swimming areas.
"We are asking parents to especially
keep an eye on younger children, as it is
certainly not safe for a child to be unsupervised
near watercourses because it is so easy for
them to get into difficulties."
