North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service are urging people to stay out of open water as the region prepares for an unprecedented spell of extreme heat.
With temperatures expected to rise significantly over the coming days, emergency services are warning that rivers, lakes and quarry pools can present serious and potentially fatal dangers, despite appearing inviting during hot weather.
The warning comes as much of Europe continues to experience intense heat, with reports from France indicating that at least 40 people have drowned in the last five days. According to the country’s prime minister, most of the victims were swimming in unsupervised areas.
Superintendent Simon Barrasford said: “We appreciate the weather is warm and the forecast for this week expects temperatures to rise further, and it can be very tempting to jump into quarry pools as well as rivers and lakes to cool down on a hot day.
“However, open water can contain hidden hazards such as debris, weeds, and reeds that you may not be able to see from the surface.
“The water can also be very deep, and swimmers can easily find themselves out of their depth. If you are thinking about going swimming in open water, please think again and consider the dangers.
“We urge you to look out for your friends, avoid swimming or jumping into open water and plan how else you can cool off safely.”
Emergency services are reminding the public that cold water shock remains a risk even during the summer months. Water that appears warm from the surface can still be dangerously cold, causing sudden cramp, breathing difficulties and panic.
These effects can impact even experienced swimmers and significantly increase the risk of drowning.
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Head of Fire Safety, Paul Kay, echoed the warning and called on parents and guardians to speak with young people about the risks.
He said: “While open water may appear tempting during warm weather, I’m urging people to avoid swimming in lakes, canals, and other unsupervised bodies of water, as hidden hazards can pose serious risks.
“It is especially important for parents and guardians to talk to their children about the dangers of open water. Teenagers in particular may be more likely to venture out with friends and underestimate the risks involved in using open water to cool down, which can have serious and potentially tragic consequences.
“Help keep yourself and other safe and well by checking out the latest advice from our partners at Public Health Wales – together we can help protect our communities.”
Further water safety advice is available through North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the RNLI’s Float to Live campaign.
Anyone who witnesses people swimming in quarry pools is urged to contact North Wales Police immediately by calling 999.
In a coastal emergency, members of the public should call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
