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Students educated on dangers of open water swimming

8 Jun 2026

A British reservoir with a sign in front that says 'Danger deep water' and 'No swimming' in alarmist colours

Students at The Watkin have been visited by Jane McCormick, an open water swimmer, to discuss the dangers of swimming in deep water.

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In recent years, there have been multiple deaths due to the adverse effects of cold or deep water.


Students were taught about cold water shock and the risk of drowning in open water, with examples including lakes, reservoirs and the sea.


Head of School at The Watkin Chantelle Bowker said: "These talks are always a great opportunity for students to meet and learn from new people, while also helping them to understand the risks in the wider world."

"We're grateful to Jane for taking the time to come down", she added.


Whilst hot weather has subsided for now, coming months could present a need to cool off and families are reminded to exercise caution for their own safety.


Jim Bridge, a former firefighter, now works for the Greater Manchester Water Safety Strategic Partnership.


Talking to the BBC, he urged people to head to swimming baths rather than risk safety.


He said: "I don't think people understand the danger. They see a nice beautiful stretch of open water and they think it's going to be warm like a swimming pool but it's not."


Despite temperatures often reaching 30°C in the UK, bodies of water can remain very cold even during heatwaves.


In the event of a water emergency, families and students should call the fire service immediately, as they are best trained to carry out a rescue.


They should then encourage the person in difficulty to float on their back, reassure them that help is on the way and keep them in sight for emergency services.


If possible, use a nearby floating object to assist from a safe distance. Do not enter the water, and, when helping someone out, stay low or lie down to avoid being pulled in yourself.


For more information, families can visit this government safety information on water safety.

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