ADVICE: Top tips for new cold water swimmers

Sunday 21 January 2024

With more islanders taking up sea swimming as a new year’s resolution, a local swim coach and first aider has shared her top tips on how to stay safe in the water during the colder months.

Nicky Holgate-Smith has offered her guidance on how to recognise and treat cold shock, swim failure, and hypothermia.

Cold shock:

• Cold shock is your body's immediate reaction to cold water
• It usually lasts between 30 seconds to two minutes
• To manage this, enter the water slowly, focus on calm breathing, and maintain a normal breathing pattern
• Talking or singing can also help

Swim failure:

• Swim failure can happen after a few minutes in cold water (15°C or below) and affects your ability to swim and breathe
• Signs include panic, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, and difficulty holding objects
• If this happens, reassure the swimmer calmly, help them out of the water quickly, and treat for hypothermia

Hypothermia:

• Hypothermia occurs when body temperature falls below 35°C, with severe cases below 30°C
• Watch for difficulty in dressing, answering questions, or slurred speech after leaving the water
• If hypothermia is suspected, call emergency services, warm the person gradually, and monitor them
• If unconscious and breathing, use the recovery position

“I didn’t know about hypothermia or the symptoms"

Last month, the RNLI warned of the “very real” risks of hypothermia posed by low sea temperatures after an islander passed out following a cold-water swim and later needed hospital treatment.

Gary McGurty, who collapsed on the beach at Beauport Bay in December, urged others to be aware of the symptoms and dangers of hypothermia when deciding to go for a dip in the sea this winter.

Pictured: Gary needed to be treated in hospital after contracting hypothermia at Beauport Bay.

The 55-year-old said that he regularly visited the beach, having started cold-water swimming during the pandemic to help with back issues.

However, in December, Mr McGurty swam in the sea while still recovering from a “really bad” cold – a decision he now regrets.

He explained: “I thought the swim would help me to get over the last of it but it backfired on me.”

Mr McGurty swam for around ten minutes but, after emerging from the 12-degree water, he passed out.

“I didn’t know about hypothermia, or the symptoms," he said.

“I just went all dizzy, I felt sick, it was the strangest thing.”

Mr McGurty admitted: “I really thought it was curtains on that beach. If you’re not 100%, you shouldn’t get in there." 

LEARN MORE...

Ms Holgate-Smith is hosting a life-saving workshop for those who would like to learn more about staying safe whilst cold water swimming.

Taking place on Thursday 25 January from 19:00 to 21:00, the workshop will cover topics like casualty recognition, CPR, using a defibrillator, and dealing with hypothermia, swim failure, and cold water shock.

You can find out more at online or by emailing: nicky@enjoy2swim.je.

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Islander warns of hypothermia risk after sea swim "backfired"