It is important to teach learners how to stay safe whilst swimming at a swimming pool and when swimming outdoors. The Learn to Swim Team have created posters that can help educate learners on how to stay safe in, on and around the water, as well as, the Awards learners in the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme to achieve. Make sure you have the right equipment for your activity, for example a bright hat and tow float for outdoor swimming or buoyancy aids and the correct leash when paddleboarding, a whistle and mobile phone in a water proof pouch also help.

Safety is paramount when it comes to learning how to swim in the ocean. One way you can do this is to scout a location before you go swimming.

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Our swim lessons are a great way to empower children to learn life-saving skills that allow them to make lasting memories in and around water — safely. Our progressive swimming lessons prioritize proper technique and essential water safety in comfortable, warm-water pools that inspire confidence and fun. Want to find out more about how to swim in the ocean? Read on to find out everything you need to know to take the plunge. We've also answered another question asked by many swimmers: Is it dangerous to eat right before you swim? An overview Waves are formed by the wind. The size of the wave depends on how long and how hard the wind blows. Waves break as they move into shallower waters closer to the shoreline. How waves break on the shoreline depend on the shape and slope of the ground below it. The three types of waves Spilling waves The good news is there’s a lot you can do to help prevent drownings even when there’s no lifeguard on duty. Here are some tips. 1. Before Heading to the Beach or a Public Pool, Do Your Research

These posted rules are meant to be followed even when there's no lifeguard on duty; they're in place to prevent injuries. And don’t enter the water during hours when pools or beaches are closed or after dark, Smith adds. 7. Don’t Dive — It’s Not Worth the Risk of Serious Injuryhandle your wetsuit with care after use. Rinse it with clean water as soon as is practicable after swimming. Clean with detergent and rinse as advised by the manufacturer. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling or cleaning your wetsuit. Allow the suit to dry thoroughly before reuse. The COVID-19 pandemic halted programs to train and recertify lifeguards for two straight years, resulting in a loss of about one million lifeguards who would otherwise be working this summer, says Bernard J. Fisher II, the director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association in Vienna, Virginia. This shortage, combined with a pandemic pause in temporary work visas for foreign lifeguards, has forced countless pools and beaches to open with fewer lifeguards, reduce their hours, or close altogether this summer, he says. Open water swimming can increase the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses, or stomach bugs, which may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections. Most symptoms of these illnesses caused by micro-organisms such as norovirus, giardia and cryptosporidium, will generally be mild. However, there is also a risk of more severe infections caused by micro-organisms such as E.coli O157 which may cause severe gastrointestinal illness and leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), which can cause liver and kidney problems. Bathing water quality and how it’s monitored Don't jump or dive into any water unless you know the depth (it might look fun, but this can cause a ruptured spinal cord and paralysis or can be fatal). As an open water swimmer, you are responsible for your own safety. Wiseman told Live Science: "Gathering information on potential risks and hazards is a gradual process – you can do this both before you set on a location and when you get to your chosen swimming spot. Ask yourself, is it safe for me to swim? Do your own risk Safety tips