{"id":15,"date":"2022-11-04T15:24:15","date_gmt":"2022-11-04T15:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/?p=15"},"modified":"2023-05-31T10:29:51","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T09:29:51","slug":"open-water-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.citrus-lime.com\/tesc\/open-water-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Water Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Swim Buddy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bring a friend with you. The golden rule is to not swim alone. Your friend doesn\u2019t have to get into the sea with you, but someone needs to be able to keep an eye on you! It\u2019s the best way to prepare you for a safe and enjoyable experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check The Weather\/ Sea Forecast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check the weather and sea conditions before planning a trip on the open water. If you plan to be out for a long time check regularly as the conditions can change very quickly. If you have made the effort to get to the sea and it\u2019s looking rough you maybe tempted to brave it. Don\u2019t. If in doubt don\u2019t go out. You can avoid the temptation by checking the forecast before you leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Float To Live<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Float to live. Three words to remember which are potentially life saving. If you fall into cold water your body may go into a state of shock. You must try and fight your instincts to thrash about or swim. Lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call or signal for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"floattolive\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rip Tides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The majority of Lifeguard incidents involve Rip tides. They can be very hard to spot, even to an experienced swimmer. The best way to avoid them would be to swim inside the red and yellow flags pitched on a lifeguarded beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you encounter yourself in the middle of one panic can set in and you may instinctively try to swim against it. You must fight this urge. It can be futile to swim against the pull of the current if it\u2019s strong. The rip tide can flow at a quicker speed than an Olympic swimmer and you will exhaust yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raise your hand and shout for help if possible. If you can stand, wade yourself back rather than swim. If you\u2019re in too deep you must swim parallel to the shore until you manage to free yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Slow + Steady<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When going for a swim slowly introduce yourself to the sea so your body can adjust to the temperature. Jumping in could make your body go into shock. Once you\u2019re waist deep splash some water into your face and upper body. Your breathing may start to change as you adapt so walk or breaststroke (keeping your head above the water) parallel to the shore until it gets under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spot Hypothermia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hypothermia is not related to cold water shock and is a different danger to be aware of. It seeps in over time as your body gradually gets colder, and drops below 35C. Symptoms to be aware of include; Shivering, Slurred speech, confusion and irregular breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or another swimmer it\u2019s time to get to shore and get warm, dry and change into some fresh clothes. Drink a hot beverage and some hot food to help warm the body from the inside out and give it some energy. Should symptoms worsen or don\u2019t improve seek medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"hypothermia\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wear a Wetsuit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A wetsuit is vital to keep you warm and more buoyant in the sea. Irish waters tend to be cold all year round so they\u2019re an important companion. The wetsuit will give you some protection against the bitterly cold elements and may help you avoid cold water shock. Some are also designed to be highly visible so you can be seen easily. The Orca OpenWater SW<\/a> (smart wetsuit) is the optimum wetsuit for open water safety currently on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as being warm, buoyant and highly visible \u2013 it also includes a SMART ID system making you and your contacts instantly identifiable in the event of accident or emergency. It also includes a Resttube ready connector which can connect to a swim buoy for extra visibility and buoyancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Warm Clothes + Food\/ Drink<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once getting out of the water it\u2019s wise to try and get warm and dry as soon as possible. Your core temperature has likely dropped if you have spent a significant amount of time offshore. Getting out of the sea and into a cosy changing robe is not just comforting but also practical! Add some hot food and drink and it\u2019s the perfect remedy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Useful Accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n