Kent water safety charity issues warning about swimming in lakes and rivers
It comes with high temperatures continuing today after parts of Kent recorded their hottest days of the year yesterday
A Kent water safety charity is urging parents to educate their children about the dangers of swimming in lakes and rivers.
It comes with high temperatures continuing today after parts of the county recorded their hottest days of the year yesterday.
The Lucas Dobson Water Safety Campaign is run by Peter Faulding, he said: "Children come out of school or over the weekend they go to the local lakes or rivers but what they don't realise is the temperature of the water is so cold.
"And what they generally do is run, jump in, and swim out to the middle as fast as they can and all of sudden they are exhausted because the water is so cold it freezes your muscles.
"Most people make the mistake of not floating, and instead they flail their arms around trying to hold themselves up but that won't work because of the cold water, so it's just like a seizure and they can't float anymore and unfortunately they drown.
"My advice for people is to role onto your back and float or lay face down and hold your breathe in the water because your body won't sink if it has air in it."