wild & outdoor swim safety

Heat exhaustion while swimming can creep up on you, what to look out for and how to treat it are key in ensuring feeling a bit ropey doesn't deteriorate into heat stroke. Swimming can mask some of the signs, so we need to be body-aware and check in with ourselves whilst swimming on a hot day in relatively warm water. Whether swimming skins or in a wetsuit there are some actions you can take.

Swimming in a river after rain is something I'd always warn against, because run-off from fields and water from over-flowing drains end up in our waterways. Why then didn't I heed my own advice? What happened? How did I get on swimming in the River Stour near Wimborne?

What should you expect of your emergency contact when you get in the water? What information should you tell them about your swim or trip? Do they understand their role and the actions they need to take if you overrun? I ran an experiment on what would happen if I used an emergency contact but didn't ask them, find out how that turned out.

Thank you to Kristy and LP who are usually my emergency contacts xxxx

Swimming in open water is different from pool swimming in a number of ways, not least in the change in temperature. To enjoy your swim safely, it's important to acclimatise safely and gently build up your time in the water. In this video I discuss how to get in; how to stay in; how you'll know when you should get out and what happens if you stay in too long. I also include a couple of tips about how to cope with the dreaded ice cream head and how to maintain acclimatisation, once you've started.

The RYA SafeTrx app is aimed at safe boating, but here I show you how to set it up to improve swimmer safety. We work through setting up a sail plan for an outdoor swimmer. The app lets an emergency contact follow your track and alerts them if you are overdue. We also go through the actions your emergency contact should take to ensure your safety.

Acclimatising before swimming is a key factor in staying safe when I swim outdoors. Lots of people ask how I actually get in when the water is cold. This is a look at getting wet and how cold it feels. Watch to the end for a spiteful slap about personal grooming from Mother Nature!

Winter swimming is all about managing risk, here we go for a swim and I explain the steps I take for a safe winter swim. Outdoor swimming is one of my favourite ways of mentally resetting. Feeling part of the natural world, but at the same time being aware and taking responsibility for my own safety.

There is a high tide about every 12 hours 25 minutes in the UK, but what should swimmers know about the tide? We talk springs, neaps, current and where to find out tidal information for your swim spot.

Walking, and then swimming, through what swimmers should know about lowland rivers. First I walk upstream from the get out identifying hazards such as strainers, weirs, pinch points and turbulent water. I explain eddies and demonstrate how to ferry glide to cross the river or avoid a hazard downstream. Then I swim the section I've just scouted. Come and join me.

There's a fair bit of planning that I do before a swim, join us on our mini-adventure as I share what safety considerations we take for swimming in an estuary. We swim through marshes, under bridges, and past moored yachts and container ships.

Each swimmer and location is different, but this is how I decide if a swim spot is safe for me. Weather, water flow, hazards, traffic, entry and exit points, where to get changed and water quality are key considerations for every swim.