Reservoir Safety - Please Read

[ianedwards]

Hi Chaps/Ladies,

I don't like all his serious stuff but it needs telling.

I would just like to point out how dangerous reservoirs can be in this lovely weather,

Sadly over the past weekend in two separate incidents in two separate reservoirs not 15 miles apart in Wales, two men lost their lives swimming in our reservoirs. One aged 52 on Saturday in Pontsticill reservoir and the other aged 24 on Sunday in Cantref Reservoir, you might have seen it on the news.

As I work at both the treatment works supplied by these reservoirs I thought I would highlight how dangerous swimming in a reservoir in this hot weather can be by sharing this information with all of you, so none of you share the same fate, it doesn't matter how old, fit or young you are the water is dangerous, no matter how nice and inviting it looks please don't go in.

It may be touching 30 degrees at times but as soon as you jump in, the water is more like 2 degrees, you will just cramp up and it WILL take you, as it did those two men.

SO PLEASE PLEASE THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING IF YOU GET IN THAT SITUATION, AND DON'T BE STUPID, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT.


Sorry for the lecture but please don't, just don't.

Thanks for reading

Ian

[dan_2k_uk]

Stick to rivers.

I work at the opposite kind of water treatment works that feeds onto them.

They might not be as clean but atleast they are warm.

On a serious note though, water is very dangerous. Take care.

[turbo-tom]

Nota good way to kick off the summer. thoughts are with the family/s

[Jordi]

Add my little bit if i may.

Carrying on from Ian's sad statement another two men have died swimming in a quarry pool in Norfolk. Very similar to reservoirs and exceptionally cold as they tend to be very well sheltered at the bottom of the quarry cliffs.

[ianedwards]

Yea not good, heard that today.

From what I was told, in water below 20 degrees the body goes into a sort of calm panic mode, the blood thickens, you strougle to shout, your movements start slowing down, until you just can't do any thing.

Little story

It happened in front of one of the our rangers, they where asking a bunch of lads to get out of the reservoir, all came in but one, he wasn't out far only 20 yards or so. They said it looked as if he was giving them the finger, but then he just disappeared.

They managed to get him out before he drowned, so all was ok that time.

They guy described it as loosing control, just couldn't move fast or shout or do any thing. All he could manage to do was raise the one arm up.

Very sad that people arnt listening to the advice out there, even when its being plastered all over the news as well.

Quarry's, lakes, reservoirs, any large body of water you take the risk.


cheers

Ian

[Jordi]

I know that feeling.

We were on exercise in catterick training area. Recovering a Bedford out of deepish water, maybe 4ft. Not super deep i know but it was the middle of winter and there was ice floating around it.

Stripped down to just overalls so we had dry warm gear for when we got out. It was like being hit by a train. All your motor functions just stop as the body starts to shut down to preserve energy and keep your core organs goings.

Initial stages are loss of feeling, stuttering and everything you do feels like slow motion. It turned into a stabbing pain eventually. Like as a kid when you threw snowballs and when you put your hands under cold water it felt like burning. Like that but all over.

The simplest of tasks like screwing a big bow shackle together became a two man job.

This was a set up training scenario with support a couple of metres away and i still had my doubts about being in water with ice floating in it.

In water that cold its not even minutes before your body goes into emergency mode.