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Key Messages
- Plan before you enter the water
- Wear buoyancy – it saves lives
- Never go alone
Theme: Prepare Properly – Enjoy Water Safely
Day 4 focuses on keeping safe when taking part in water activities.
Outdoor activities are popular across Cumbria, but preparation matters.
Remember natural water, including lakes, rivers, becks and reservoirs, can appear calm, clear and inviting, but conditions beneath the surface or within moving water can create powerful and unpredictable risks. These hidden forces mean that even confident swimmers can quickly lose control.
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Check weather, wind and temperature - Check the weather forecast and tide times before you set out. If the water is too choppy, you might find it difficult, especially if you are a beginner. And be aware, the conditions can change quickly. If in doubt don’t go out.
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Wear suitable clothing for the time of year - In the winter, you will want to use a wet or dry suit. In the summer although it may feel warm the water is often still very cold and if you fall in unexpectedly, you might experience cold water shock, so consider wearing a wetsuit.
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Wear tow floats or buoyancy aids - You should wear a suitable personal flotation device. This can be a buoyancy aid or a life jacket. Choose one that still allows you plenty of movement so you can paddle freely. Not only will it keep you afloat, but it will also help give you time to recover should you fall in - and chances are you will!
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Avoid alcohol - Alcohol can seriously impair your judgement, reaction time and significantly increase the risk of drowning.
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Tell someone where you are going - Make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you are intended to be back. Use What3Words to identify your location.
- If you see someone struggling in water:
Phone, Float, Throw:
- Phone 999 to get help
- Tell them to stay calm and float on their back
- Throw them something that floats until emergency services arrive
- Do not enter the water yourself.
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Wear the right leash for the location – Straight leashes should only be used in the surf. Paddling anywhere else should be done with a coiled leash.
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If you can, always go with a friend - It's more fun, and they can help you if you get into difficulty.
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Carry a phone in a waterproof pouch - As well as being able to take photos of your paddle you can also use your mobile phone in an emergency to raise the alarm. Make sure you carry this on you (e.g. in a buoyancy aid pocket or around your neck) so that you can get it easily if are in trouble.
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Tell someone where you are going - Makes sure someone knows where you are going and what time you are intended to be back. Use What3Words to identify your location.
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Avoid offshore winds - They will quickly blow your paddle board far out onto the lake, which can make it extremely tiring and difficult to paddle back to shore.
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Get the appropriate level of training - You might be tempted to just buy a board and head out. Having a few training sessions can teach you the right technique.
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How to use the What3Words App in an Emergency
- Open the app: Wait a few seconds for the blue dot to settle in one place. For a more accurate GPS location, you should be outdoors.
- Locate yourself: The 3 words for your location will display at the bottom of the screen.
- Give the three words: Read the what3words location over the phone to the emergency services. They'll know exactly where to find you.
The app works offline, even in areas with no internet access, by using the device's GPS signal. Download the what3words app for free on iOS and Android or access the website what3words.com
Many organised water activity groups such as swimming/rowing/canoeing clubs around Cumbria, follow strong safety rules — copying others without experience, increases risk.
Please look out for tomorrow’s 5 Minute Briefing, where we will be focusing on “Home Water Safety and Safer Swimming Environments".
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