What happens to your body in quarry water?
Jumping into cold water triggers cold shock, a sudden gasp that causes you to inhale water, even on a sunny day. Did you know, you can die from ‘cold shock’ in two minutes?
Even if you survive cold shock, within seconds:
Your fingers go stiff, making it impossible to climb out
You lose co-ordination, making it hard to swim or tread water
Your muscles weaken, leaving you helpless in deep water
Eventually, hypothermia shuts your body down.
Quarry lakes are no joke. Don’t put your life at risk.
What to do in the event of an incident?
The risk of accidental drowning is five times higher when air temperatures are at or above 25 degrees. Air temperatures are forecast to be above 25 degrees for much of the UK over the coming days.
This Royal Life Saving Society UK – RLSS UK report provides evidence of a relationship between the two factors and shows that when average maximum air temperatures are at their highest, it is teenagers and young adults who are proportionately more likely to lose their lives to accidental drowning: https://lnkd.in/e_imAaNc
Simple lifesaving advice can save lives:
If you find yourself in trouble in the water, float to live:
•        Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
•        Relax and try to breathe normally
•        Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
•        It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
•        Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.
If you see someone else in trouble in the water this summer, remember Call, Tell, Throw:
•        Call 999 to get help
•        Tell the struggling person to float on their back
•        Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring, inflatable toy, or bottle.
Image from www.respectthewater.com as part of their ‘Make the right call, call 999’ campaign.
