Heading to the coast or out on the water is a great way to have fun and stay active. But, if you’re not careful, it’s a lot easier to get into trouble in the water than you might think. Conditions can change quickly and if you’re not prepared, you can easily get caught out.

Whether you’re going to the beach, exploring the coast, or venturing out onto the water, the RNLI have lots of sea safety advice to help you stay safe. Visit www.rnli.org/safety/ for more useful information.

 Would you know what to do if you got into difficulty in the water? Our simple golden rule to remember is …

FLOAT TO LIVE

 However you use the water, this advice could save your life. Around half those who accidentally drown every year had no intention to enter the water, just remembering this basic principle could save your life. The float to live technique has helped save the lives of more than 50 people in all sorts of situations. From children in rip currents to people swept out by waves, or fishermen falling overboard.

How to do it:

The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – it’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

The RNLI actively encourage practising how to float in a safe environment like your local swimming pool. It’s a lifesaving skill and having the confidence to float in a life or death situation could make all the difference.

Remember these 4 simple steps:

1. Tilt your head back, submerging your ears.
2. Relax and try to control your breathing.
3. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat.
4. Your legs may sink but that’s OK – everyone floats differently.

Remember it. Practise it. Share it. It could save you or someone you love.

The dangers of cold-water shock

The effect on the body of entering water 15°C and below is often underestimated. As we enter the colder seasons, it is important to be aware of the dangers of cold-water shock, no matter how familiar you are with the local ocean temperatures, as this can be a precursor to drowning.

Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement, so the risk is significant most of the year with the average UK and Ireland sea temperatures being just 12°C.

How does it happen and what are the symptoms of cold water shock?

Cold water shock causes the heart rate to increase and the blood vessels in the skin to close, which increases the resistance of blood flow. As a result, the heart has to work harder and your blood pressure goes up. Cold water shock can therefore cause heart attacks, even in the relatively young and healthy.

The sudden cooling of the skin by cold water also causes an involuntary gasp for breath. Breathing rates can change uncontrollably, sometimes increasing as much as tenfold. These numerous responses contribute to a feeling of panic, increasing the chance of inhaling water directly into the lungs.

This can all happen very quickly: it only takes half a pint of sea water to enter the lungs for a fully grown man to start drowning. You could die if you don’t get medical care immediately.

How to deal with cold water shock and minimise the risk

 If you enter the water unexpectedly:

• Take a minute.The initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away.
• Relax and Float to Live.
• Keep calmthen call for help or swim for safety if you’re able.

If you’re planning on enjoying the water:

• Check conditions including water temperature before heading to the coast. Visit gov.ukfor full surf reports in the UK and Ireland.
• Wear a wetsuitof appropriate thickness for the amount of time you plan to spend in the water and the type of activity you’re doing.
• If you are open water swimming, acclimatise to cold water slowly and enter gradually. Always swim parallel to the shore – cold water currents can tire you quickly.
• Wear a flotation device. It greatly increases your chances of making it through the initial shock.
• Don’t go alone – tell someone else where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Our seas are cold enough to leave you helpless in seconds. Treat water with respect, not everyone can be saved.

This article is taken from the 2025 Autumn Issue of Abersoch Life. Words by Sarah Leather, RNLI Press Officer. 

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