Fear and media headlines about water quality are running high in the UK, and rightly so. But stats show there’s only one incidence of sickness for every 9,000 swims.
There are things we can do to reduce our risk of sickness other than - perish the thought, give up swimming (or not take it up in the first place. I am so sad to see people scared off starting swimming).
Balance it against the positives - the joy, the immersion in nature, the freedom and the physical and mental benefits.
So here are some TOP TIPS
1 Don’t go in if the water looks iffy - head for purer water
2 Be cautious after heavy rain
3 Don’t swallow water
4 Don’t wear contact lenses
5 Cover any cuts
6 and then dry your ears and wash your hands afterwards.
I take care. But What I don’t do very often, is stop swimming.
For more advice, visit www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/