Water Recreational Activities

An overview of the risks and safety measures in water recreational activities

Objectives

01 Summarize the safety measures in mitigating risk in the water

02 Define the different kinds of risk or injuries in the water

LESSON 2.2 Risks Around Water

Reservoirs, rivers, disused quarries and

other water bodies can be perfect
places to visit, but they can be
dangerous. Water may look safe, but it
can be hazardous, which is why it's
important to spot and keep away from
dangers.
 If you are going to go swimming, make sure that somebody is nearby
so you can shout for help if you get into difficulties.
The dangers of water include:

very cold temperatures - the water there may be hidden debris or

can be colder than expected, even in
warm weather
hidden currents - there can be strong
underwater currents, which can
trouble even the most confident of
swimmers
reservoirs are often very deep -
it is difficult to estimate depth
and they can be deeper than
people expect
01 underwater hazards which can
cause injury, including weeds and
plants which can entangle people
under the water
05
02
if it’s polluted it could make you
ill
it can be very difficult to get out
(especially steep slimy banks)
04
03
there are no lifeguards on duty
the remoteness of some of
these places can also hamper
and delay rescue attempts
 Quarries
Quarries are not a playground, and quarry lakes
in particular pose the greatest risk. They are
often much colder than rivers, lakes and
reservoirs as they can be fed by water sources
that originate deep underground.

A sudden plunge into cold water starts a gasp

response, which can cause drowning within
seconds.
Quarries, particularly abandoned and disused quarries are
dangerous places. Several people have died in disused quarries
in Northern Ireland in recent years. Most quarries are private
and you should not climb over damaged fences or gates to get
into them.
 Some quarry lakes may look inviting on a hot summer’s day, but there
are a number of hidden dangers:

 deep water  underwater ledges  dead animals and

and recesses excrement
 cold water
 hidden currents and  Rubbish
tunnels
 submerged
abandoned  Pollution
machinery and car  submerged plants
wrecks
 dangerous algae
 Reservoirs
an artificial lake created in a river valley by the construction
of a dam.

Reservoirs are often very deep - it is

difficult to estimate depth and they can be
deeper than people expect. There may
be hidden debris or underwater hazards
which can cause injury, including weeds
and plants which can entangle people
under the water. If it's polluted it could
make you ill.
 River
is a ribbon-like body of water that flows downhill from the force of
gravity.

- A river is a large, natural stream of flowing water.

- Rivers are found on every continent and on nearly every
kind of
land
- A river can be wide and deep, or shallow enough for a
person to wade
across.
- A flowing body of water that is smaller than a river is
called a stream, creek, or brook.
 Common River Hazards
01 Foot entrapment – Catching a foot
in rocks on the bottom of the river.
May be caused by trying to stand up
while getting swept downstream in
water mid-thigh to mid-torso deep.
Man Made Entrapments – Man-made
objects in the river are inherently more
03 dangerous than most things natural. Keep an
eye out for bridge pilings, low head dams,
junked cars, any man made object found
commonly in urban riverways, highway
crossings, and abandoned dam sites. Make it
a habit to visually scan downstream.
02 Strainers – Trees or single branches
in the current, with river water
flowing through, can cause a severe
pinning hazard.
Broaches – Getting pinned on a rock,
either amidship or at the ends. Avoid
04 sharp rocks that can potentially crease a
boat or serve as point to be wrapped by
your kayak! Develop the instinct to lean
into the rock with your boat and body
leaning together.
 Common River Hazards

Undercut Rocks – Undercuts are water features where
01 a slab of rock, or rock shape, forces the current flow to
go under the surface. Learn to spot them by the dark
02
shadow on the upstream side of the rock, the lack of
pillowing action by oncoming water, and by the lack of
a predictable eddy on the downstream side. Most
dangerous undercuts are well known by locals, and
listed in guidebooks.
Entanglement – Getting tangled exiting
your boat is most likely to be caused by
ropes, and loose lines, in your boat. Practice
wet exits and critically evaluate your
outfitting for entanglement potential. Treat
throw ropes as potential hazards. Keep them
neatly bagged, and carry a knife for rescue.

Vertical Pins – When the bow buries and gets pinned
03 on the bottom after a steep drop. This is not a concern
until you are paddling drops of over 3 or 4 feet.
Advanced paddlers prevent them by checking the
water depth first, and leaning back and performing a
‘boof’ move to keep the bow up. Paddling boats with a
large volume bow reduces this risk substantially.
Hydraulics – have evenly formed backwash,
04 water moving back upstream for four or
more feet. Holes with more of a wave shape
are intimidating, but typically less hazardous
than water flowing smoothly upstream.
Dams, and hydraulics that are very regular,
and perpendicular to the current are far
more dangerous than hydraulics angled with
one end downstream.
Common River Hazards

Long Swims – Wearing a tight PFD, matching your

ability to an appropriate river, and being dressed for
a swim can be excellent defense against a long
swim. Another great precaution is a competent
group of friends with either a shore or boat based
rescue plan.
 Beach/ Sea

Both sea and beach are nouns that

refer to a body of water, sea
meaning an ocean or large body of
salt water. The difference between
sea and beach is that “sea” refers to
any body of water, while “beach”
refers specifically to a sandy area
near the water.
 Dangers at the Beach

Rip currents account for more than 80

percent of rescues performed by surf beach
lifeguards. They are powerful, channeled
currents of water flowing away from shore
that quickly pull swimmers out to sea.
Rip currents typically extend from the
shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the
line of breaking waves. The best way to stay
safe is to recognize the danger of rip currents.
If caught in one, don't fight it! Swim parallel
to the shore and swim back to land at an
angle. Always remember to swim at beaches
with lifeguards.
 Dangers at the Beach

A shorebreak is an ocean condition when

waves break directly on the shore. Both small
and high waves can be equally as
unpredictable and dangerous and typically
form when there is a rapid transition from
deep to shallow water. The power of a
shore break can cause injuries to extremities
and the cervical spine. Spinal cord injuries
most often occur when diving headfirst into
the water or being tumbled by the force of the
waves. Be sure to ask a lifeguard about the
wave conditions before going into the water.
 Dangers at the Beach
LIGHTNING Since 2006, an
average of 33 people have been
killed annually by lightning in the
United States. There is no safe
place outside when
thunderstorms are in the area.
When thunder roars, go indoors!
The safest places during
lightning activity are substantial
buildings and hard-topped
vehicles. Rain shelters, small
sheds, and open vehicles are not
safe. Wait 30 minutes after the
last thunder crack before
returning to the beach.
SAND HOLES If you take a trip to the
beach, you may build sand castles or
even bury yourself in the sand. These
are fun activities with little-to-no
danger, but digging deep holes in the
sand is another matter. Digging in
areas of the beach where dunes are
present — especially in areas that
are isolated and not visible from
the beachfront — can be very
dangerous. While there is no clear
guidance on the depth at which
these holes can become
hazardous, it’s best to avoid
digging holes that are deep
enough for you to fall in and get
stuck.
HEAT AND SUNBURN Too
much heat and sun can spoil a
vacation. Heat is the leading
weather-related killer in the
United States, causing more
deaths than floods, lightning,
tornados, and hurricanes
combined. Heat disorder
symptoms include sunburn, heat
cramps, heat exhaustion, and
heat stroke. Spending the day at
the beach can lead to any of these
disorders but the most visible is
sunburn, which can take up to 24
hours before the full damage is
visible. Seek medical help right
away if a burn is severe, especially
if it is accompanied by a
headache, chills, or fever.
 Dangers at the Beach
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS (HABs)
(popularly referred to as red tides) are
dense populations or "blooms" of algae
that form in coastal waters. A small
percentage of these blooms can be
toxic to marine animals and humans.
People can get sick by swimming
directly in the water and by eating
contaminated shellfish. If a sufficient
amount of toxins are ingested, the
results can be fatal. Scientists can
forecast the timing and location of
blooms. This allows coastal managers
and public health officials to make
decisions regarding shellfish harvesting
and beach closures to ensure the
health of both residents and visitors.
WATER QUALITY Coastal beaches are
among the most treasured natural
resources in the nation, but beach
closures or advisories caused by poor
water quality often prevent the public
from enjoying these resources. As
water flows from land to coastal
waters, it is often contaminated by
untreated sewage from boats, pets,
failing septic systems, fertilizers, and
spills from hazardous substances.
High levels of bacteria and other
chemicals in the water can cause
gastrointestinal illnesses in those who
swim directly in the water. When
visiting the beach, be aware of all
beach closures and advisories.
MARINE DEBRIS Our oceans are
filled with items that do not belong
there. Huge amounts of consumer
plastics, metals, rubber, paper,
textiles, derelict fishing gear,
vessels, and other lost or discarded
items enter the marine environment
every day, making marine debris
one of the most widespread
pollution problems facing the
world's oceans and waterways. This
debris, or litter, often ends up on
our beaches, damaging habitats,
harming wildlife, and making it
unsafe for beachgoers to walk along
the shoreline and swim in the water.
 Dangers at the Beach
SHARK ATTACKS, though rare, are most likely to
occur near shore, typically inshore of a sandbar or
between sandbars, where sharks can become
trapped by low tide, and near steep drop-offs
where sharks' prey gather. The relative risk of a
shark attack is very small but should always be
minimized whenever possible. To reduce your risk,
don’t swim too far from shore, stay in groups, avoid
being in the water during darkness or twilight,
don't go in the water if you are bleeding from a
wound, leave shiny jewelry at home, and avoid
brightly colored swimwear.
JELLYFISH Keep an eye out for jellyfish. All
jellyfish sting, but not all have venom that hurts
humans. Of the 2,000 species of jellyfish, only
about 70 seriously harm or may occasionally kill
people. When on the beach, take note of jellyfish
warning signs. Be careful around jellies washed
up on the sand as some still sting if their
tentacles are wet. Tentacles torn off a jellyfish
can sting, too. If you are stung, don't rinse with
water, which could release more poison.
Lifeguards usually give first aid for stings. See a
doctor if you have an allergic reaction.
 CONCLUSION

Water recreation during holiday is increasingly common in our population. Activities

within natural water environment, either freshwater or ocean water, may associated
with environmental risk, infectious pathogens and traumatic injuries. Drowning,
marine envenomation, and decompression sickness are the most common risks found
during water recreational activities. Recreational activities involving water should be
well planned before traveling and should not be a spontaneous action. Consuming
alcohol beverages or narcotics before doing water activities should be strongly
discouraged. A complete cardiovascular and pulmonary assessment may be required
for people at risk of cardiovascular event. A personalized travel advice, appropriate
training and education should be given to prevent morbidities and mortalities,
especially when trying a new or unfamiliar type of water activity.
Thank you. Please feel free to ask questions.