The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Local Area Commander Mark Duffy has issued a stark warning against swimming in rivers and reservoirs to cool off, noting that fresh water temperatures in West Lothian are barely warmer than in winter even as air temperatures approach 30C.
Cold water shock, an involuntary physiological reaction to sudden immersion in water below 15C, can trigger a sudden gasp, rapid hyperventilation, and a massive spike in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially causing cardiac arrest or drowning within minutes. Duffy told a meeting of the public and community safety PDSP that the difference in open water temperature between midwinter and midsummer is only 1C.
Popular Swimming Spots Remain Dangerous
The River Almond is popular with youngsters in summer, while the Avon Lagoon at Linlithgow and Pentland reservoirs Harperrig and Harlaw are busy year-round with cold water swimmers. However, danger persists even in the hottest weather.
Armadale Councillor Lynda Kenna asked what information is given to local youngsters about water safety, particularly as schools break for summer holidays. The Area Commander said water safety has been a priority for SFRS across Scotland for years, with high school pupils long targeted for advice and safety messages now increasingly reaching primary age children.
Key Safety Advice: Float, Don't Swim
Duffy acknowledged that in hot weather, the advice to stay out of water would be widely ignored. He urged young people to study safety advice that recommends floating rather than swimming. Many drownings occur because the person panics; the 'float to live' technique involves leaning back, extending arms and legs, and breathing normally to allow the body to float naturally. Swimming wastes energy and increases panic.
Duffy stated: 'The difference between December and July is maybe one degree. Water temperature doesn’t change much in Scotland. So even if the air temperature is 24 or 25 degrees the water is still cold. So our water safety message is don’t. Please don’t enter the water unless you’ve got flotation devices or are supervised.'
