Swimming Safely In Open Water!

Swimming in the open water, how does that work exactly? Currently, many swimmers are getting acquainted with the open water again. Some have been swimming outside all winter, and some start it up again after hibernation. So go well prepared and prepare yourself especially with Lifeguard Course for the sometimes cold outside water.

1. Build it up slowly

No one can swim a 10-kilometer run without training. Therefore, do not swim as you are used to in a swimming pool if you are not used to swimming in cold (outdoor) water. Introducing your body to cold water takes time that you should not skip or speed up. On the other hand, you can do this training, for example start with a cold shower. Then start with two minutes of outdoor swimming and gradually build up to a quarter of an hour or half an hour. The building process naturally accelerates the more you swim. Your body receives a cold water stimulus that is becoming more and more "normal" for the body.

Always take your own body into account, listen to this carefully! Don't go beyond the limit your body is trying to set. All experienced open water swimmers started with "only" 10 minutes of swimming.

2. Wear a swim cap

Why a bathing cap? This one hardly protects you, it is so thin? Correct. Of course, wearing a swimming cap has no magical effect, so that the water is suddenly warm. Without noticing it, you lose a lot of heat through the head, so every little bit like a bath cap helps against this. Don't you normally wear a swim cap because you don't like it or don't have one? When swimming in cold water, a silicone swimming cap is highly recommended. In addition, neoprene hoodies are also available to provide optimal protection for the head, especially in colder temperatures.

3. Protect yourself with the right equipment

When you are used to always swimming in the pool, you don't think about it so quickly. The chance that you already have it at home is all the less. Logical, because you don't need it in the warm backwater of a swimming pool. But when you swim in the open water it is all the more important. The temperature of the cold water can sometimes be so low that your body needs support, then you can opt for a wetsuit . A wetsuit insulates your body optimally against the cold and helps to keep it warm. There are many different wetsuits for different purposes, so proper advice is often desirable. Pre-testing can also be the best choice in many cases with Lifeguard Course Va.

In principle, advanced swimmers who are used to swimming in cold water at water temperatures from 16 degrees should already be able to swim without a wetsuit. But we recommend that you keep the wetsuit on until you experience it as too warm, which is often at a temperature of 22 degrees. With a wetsuit on in cold water, your body has to work less hard against the cold and the recovery time will be shorter.

When water temperatures really drop, or you get the feeling that it's getting too cold. May be a wise choice to use neoprene accessories. These support the limbs where a wetsuit does not reach. Think of socks, gloves or face masks . We also advise these ourselves and we have them in our webshop from various leading brands. In addition to keeping your own body warm, it is also wise to keep an eye on your recognizability. A wetsuit is mainly dark tinted and therefore quickly disappears in the dark water. People who pass by will therefore be less able to see you. To prevent this, a swimming buoy can be used. A striking orange colored balloon that floats behind you. This buoy provides little to no resistance and makes you recognizable for the water traffic around you.

4. Slide gently into the water, do not dive or jump into the water.

Enter the water as calmly as possible at all times. Let your body get acquainted with the cold in a calm way. This ensures that no shock effect can occur. Even if you have a wetsuit with all accessories on, you can get too much cold in the moment, causing the shock effect.

A handy tip for entering the water is to wet your hands and let the bare parts get acquainted with the cold. Then slowly lower yourself into the water. Keep your head above the water the longest, so that you get the feeling of getting used to it, you can start swimming. During the first meter, always pay close attention to the reaction of your body to the cold water. For example, you can notice it in your breathing. If you notice that your breathing is not under control, do not continue swimming.

5. Warm up afterwards.

Make sure that your body can warm up optimally, especially after swimming. You can do this, for example, with heated sports nutrition or a thermos with tea. In addition, ensures that your clothing insulates sufficiently that your body does not lose unnecessary heat. Wearing a changing coat is also often desirable and ensures that you can change easily and warmly in an outdoor environment. It is good when you vibrate after swimming, this means that your body is warming up.