Municipal Police officers discussed safe swimming rules with children as part of the “Safe Holidays 2010” programme. A holiday trip to the water is a basic summer pastime. To prevent tragedy, they discussed the most common causes of drowning. The greatest dangers result from the desire to impress friends combined with a lack of imagination. Therefore, children should ideally always be accompanied by an adult when swimming. An adult can prevent reckless and foolhardy behaviour. Adults most often drown when swimming under the influence of alcohol. It should be remembered that even people who swim very well can drown.
The officers warn against unguarded locations. Swimming in unguarded waters involves a risk of injury or death. Places where whirlpools, aquatic weeds and cold currents occur can be dangerous – such as Krępnica, Żwirownia and the Bóbr River. At seaside bathing areas, avoid dangerous places such as breakwaters. There, you may encounter a sudden drop in the bottom, rip currents, and slippery surfaces covered with aquatic weeds or sharp mussels. In addition, cleanliness is not maintained in unguarded places. There is a risk that contact with contaminated water may cause poisoning or illness (sometimes strains of bacteria are deliberately released into the water).
The best places for swimming and bathing are properly organised and marked locations: bathing areas guarded by the rescue services of the Voluntary Water Rescue Service.
Basic water-safety rules:
- Never jump (especially headfirst) into unknown water
- Always check the water depth and the shape of the bottom
- Try not to swim alone. You can ask someone to watch you while you swim
- Do not enter the water against the lifeguard’s instructions or when a red flag is displayed (no swimming)
- Pay attention to other bathers, especially those younger than you. Someone may need your help
- If you notice someone drowning or an accident in or near the water, call for help immediately
- Always follow the instructions of the lifeguards on duty at the bathing area
- When swimming, do not move away from the designated (guarded) area of the bathing site. If you are a beginner, swim only in the bathing zone marked by yellow buoys. Red buoys mark the bathing zone intended for good swimmers
- Swim within the bathing area along the shore; then you are constantly observed and can always count on a lifeguard’s help
- Avoid recklessness in open water (do not stay in the water too long; take suitably long breaks)
When not to swim:
- When overheated after prolonged sunbathing, as thermal shock may occur
- Immediately after eating
- During rain or a storm. Rain impairs visibility, while lightning (especially in open areas) is extremely dangerous
- When feeling unwell. A feeling of cold may indicate weakness; in that case, leave the water immediately
The Municipal Police officers also advised how to spend a safe holiday in the mountains. They reminded everyone that in summer the main threats to life in the mountains are:
- Rockfalls caused by dislodging loose rocks
- Storms (they pose a fatal threat to tourists in summit areas)
When setting out into the mountains, you should:
- Leave a message stating where you are going and when you will return. Carry a charged mobile phone with the emergency number used in the Polish mountains saved: 601 100 300
- Do not set out into the mountains alone
- Choose a route suitable for your abilities and fitness
- Take warm clothing and rain protection in case of a change in the weather, or clothing that protects against excessive overheating in sunny weather
When hiking in the mountains, remember that in most cases you are in National Park areas, where the applicable regulations must be followed:
- Do not disturb the mountain quiet with shouting or music
- Do not leave rubbish behind (wild animals, such as bears in the Tatra Mountains, may begin entering the trails because leftover food is an easy source of nourishment for them)
- Do not scare animals
- Do not leave designated trails. Do not take shortcuts
- Do not pick berries or mushrooms. Do not pick any flowers or plants
If children spend their holidays in the countryside, especially in areas with typical farms, the officers emphasise that particular attention should be paid to agricultural machinery used during fieldwork.
(information: Dorota Liebert, Bolesławiec Municipal Police/GH)
