Why do people drown in reservoirs

These open water swimmers could indirectly be the cause of another drowning tragedy. Just over a third of the deaths were suspected suicides, while were recorded as an accident. Of those, only one person died swimming in a reservoir, compared with 85 in the sea, 74 in a river — and nine in a bath.

Ashley Jones, water safety and drowning prevention manager for Swim England, agrees. The people that we need to do a better job educating are those who, unfortunately, on a hot day decide to jump in spontaneously. Before allowing kids to swim in open water, make sure they know how to deal with a crashing wave and escape a rip tide or strong current. When participating in boating or other recreational water activities, families should remember to dress for the water temperature, rather than the air temperature, and to always wear a U.

Coast Guard-approved life vest. Weather and Seasonal Differences — Changes in the weather can make open water more hazardous. Heavy rains and flooding can create strong currents and rapidly change the depth and clarity of water.

Families should also be aware of man-made storm channels and reservoirs that can be empty one minute and full of water the next.

The water may look calm from the outside, but under the surface, it can be a very different story. Cold enough to take your breath away. Or lack of it. If you or a friend is drowning and somebody calls , the time it takes to arrive at the reservoir means it could already be too late. Without specialist equipment, you could put yourself at even more risk trying to help.

That green looking layer on the water is a bacterial organism known as blue-green algae, and it can produce toxins known to kill animals and pets.

In humans, it can cause severe illnesses and skin irritation. Jumping into cold water is dangerous enough without considering all the other hazards that might be in the reservoir. In fact, we know that cold water often plays a significant part in fatalities that occur in open water.

When the cold receptors in your skin are all shocked into action at the same time they cause an involuntary gasp of air. That first gasp of air could fill your lungs with water, drowning you instantly. People who are not used to cold water might find themselves at risk of experiencing cold shock. In very cold water, your muscles may become numb and the temperature could take your breath away.

Many open water swimmers choose to wear a wetsuit - a full body swimming costume - to help protect them from colder water. Open water tends to be a lot bigger than a pool, and, if it has a current, a lot stronger too! Those wave machines you might have experienced at water parks won't match the speed or strength of a fast flowing river or tide. A strong current can drain your energy very quickly, so make sure you get an adult to let you know whether they think the water is moving too fast for you to swim.

Open water can also be unexpectedly deep - so only go as far out into open water as you feel comfortable with as there might not be a place to stand and rest. In a pool you will often have a lifeguard close by or an adult you can rely on in a smaller space. Open water does not automatically give you the same level of support.

When swimming in open water it is very important that you never swim by yourself and you make sure there is a life guard or a confident adult swimmer present who can help you if you got stuck. Also be prepared for what you might find in open water - the bottom may not be smooth, with weeds that can catch your feet or stones and sharp rocks.

The water will also not be cleaned in the same way that a pool is, and there is the risk of catching an infection if the water is not particularly clean. If this all sounds a bit doom and gloom to you, buckle up because we need to tell you another thing Lakes and reservoirs might look very similar, but they actually have quite different origins.

A lake can be natural or man made, and is usually a big body of water that supports local animal and plant life.

A reservoir looks very similar, but is nearly always man made. It is a place to store very large quantities of water for many reasons - for flood control, to act as a water supply or as a source of hydroelectricity.

Reservoirs are very dangerous places to swim and the government advises against people taking a dip in a reservoir.