The Vitebsk region's Ministry of Emergency Situations has issued recommendations for safe behavior on the water
One of the problems with swimming is losing a sense of moderation, although prolonged exposure to water leads to hypothermia. Chills and shivering should be a reason to immediately go ashore and warm up, for example, by doing a short, energetic run. The duration of swimming depends on the temperature of the water and air, and the strength of the wind. Optimal conditions are clear, windless weather from +25°C and water not lower than +18°C.
Enter the water gradually to avoid a sharp temperature drop and vascular spasm. Do not rush to dive in immediately after overheating: go into the shade, cool down, and only then go swimming. It is not recommended to swim on an empty or full stomach – it is better to wait an hour and a half after eating. Never swim during a thunderstorm!
When swimming long distances, conserve your energy, stopping from time to time to rest on the water: lying on your back or holding your knees and elbows to your chest and stomach (like a float). Do not swim far from the shore on inflatable mattresses and rings, especially if your swimming skills are poor. In this case, stay close to the shore so that you can touch the bottom with your feet at any moment.
Basic rules for safe behavior on the water:
Swim only in designated areas.
Do not swim beyond the buoys marking swimming zones.
Do not swim while intoxicated, do not dive from bridges, piers, and other places.
Closely supervise children who are swimming (within arm's reach).
Do not swim on inflatable tubes, boards, or mattresses.
Do not engage in water games involving grabbing, do not give false distress signals.
Do not swim close to passing vessels or boats.
When boating, observe the rules of navigation on water bodies, be sure to have a lifebuoy and life jackets for the number of passengers, do not overload the boat and do not put young children in the boat without adults.
To request assistance, call 101 or 112.
Water Safety Rules for Children
- Rest before swimming, do not enter the water when overheated or sweaty, do a warm-up.
- Enter the water slowly and cautiously, once the water reaches your waist, stop and quickly dip your head.
- Do not swim far from the shore, do not swim beyond warning signs (markers, buoys).
- Do not stay in the water for longer than 15 - 20 minutes.
- Do not stand still in the water, swim and splash around.
- Do not swim alone, especially if you are not confident in your abilities.
- Do not engage in games in the water involving grabbing each other by the legs, arms, or head.
- If something scares you in the water, do not scream, as water can get into your lungs.
- Do not go into water above your waist if you cannot swim or swim poorly.
- Do not swim into areas where motorboats, jet skis, or vessels are moving and do not approach them.
- If you see a motorboat or jet ski moving towards you, wave your hands to be noticed and swim to the side.
- Do not swim far on an inflatable mattress or ring, the inflatable flotation device may fail or the wind may carry you far from the shore.
- Do not try to swim on logs, boards, or homemade rafts.
- Calculate your strength when swimming so that you have enough for the return trip to the shore.
- If you feel tired, calmly swim to the shore; you can rest for a while lying on your back or swimming on your back.
- Do not try to dive deep or swim underwater for as long as possible.
- Do not dive in unfamiliar places – there may be rocks, snags, metal rods, etc. at the bottom.
Water Incidents
Cramp. It occurs quite often, and anywhere, so you must know how to deal with it. First, do not panic and do not lose your head. Take a deep breath and submerge your head underwater. Firmly grip your big toe with your hand and pull your foot towards you until the cramped leg straightens. Immediately swim to the shore.
Whirlpool. Inhale as much air as possible, submerge in water, and, making a dash in the direction of the current, surface.
Strong current. Use it to get closer to the shore, but do not swim across it.
Algae overgrowth. Getting tangled in them is unpleasant, but not so scary. Staying afloat, calmly pull up your legs and carefully free yourself.
Drowning. The main thing is to keep yourself under control: do not thrash about, calm down and turn onto your stomach or back, spread your arms and legs as wide as possible – this will help you rise to the surface. To take a new breath, lying on your stomach, lift your head, and then exhale into the water. Lying on your back – breathe slowly and deeply. Do not exhale completely; there should always be air left in your lungs to stay afloat. For the same purpose, gently scoop water under yourself with your hands. Rest a little and slowly move towards the shore.
Saving a Drowning Person
Call for help from other people or rescuers.
Throw a lifebuoy or a long rope with a knot at the end to the drowning person.
If there is a boat, approach the person in it and try to help. If you are confident in your abilities and are a good swimmer, try to reach them on your own.
When you get close, grab the victim from behind by the shoulders and prevent their unconscious attempts to cling to you, then swim back. If the drowning person is unconscious, tow them to shore by holding their chin with your hand so that their face is constantly above water.
Ask bystanders to call an ambulance and immediately proceed to administer first aid. Paralysis of the respiratory center occurs 4–6 minutes after submersion, and cardiac activity can continue for up to 15 minutes, so it is crucial to act quickly.
If the person has lost consciousness or has swallowed water, remove it from their lungs: place the victim face down on a roll (log, knee) so that their head hangs down, and then press sharply with open palms between the shoulder blades (repeat until water flows from the mouth).
If the victim is still not breathing after this, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary: turn them onto their back and place them on a firm surface, clear their nose and mouth of dirt and silt. Begin artificial respiration and chest compressions: 2 breaths – 30 compressions (when CPR is performed by 2 people). Continue until they can breathe on their own.