Open water swimming

                 Good Afternoon 

                                Due to the recent hot weather we have been experiencing, we have had large amounts of people, particularly young children and teenagers turning up at sites like the Quarry on Grane Road Haslingden, to Open Water swim in the Pools.

                                This may seem like a really good idea on a hot sunny day but it could turn out to be a tragic day for both you and your family who have to deal with any loss of life. I cannot put into words how dangerous it is, with 200 people a year losing their lives due to open water swimming accidents. It may be 28 degrees in the sunshine but the temperature under the surface in any large body of water is significantly lower. When entering the water you may find your body goes into cold shock, which makes your muscles tense up and unable to move, you may also struggle to breath. The surface of the water also hides dangers of debris and rocks which you may not be able to see and can also become trapped in. 

                                 People lose their lives, even the strongest of swimmers, it does happen, it has happened and will happen again. Unfortunately, due to the rural nature of most of these sites, it takes longer for the emergency services to access them and unfortunately in these circumstances, time is sadly against us. Please be aware.

P.C 633 Baxter