Swimming safety: Is the two-hour rule when bathing too strict?

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Swimming consumes energy. “This is why you should never go into the water without your energy reserves,” says Reto Abächerli (44), Managing Director of the Swiss Life Saving Society. “If we don’t eat for a long time, it can lead to hypoglycemia.” If blood sugar is too low, our body goes into energy-saving mode. During the period called hunger rest, we begin to tremble and our head starts to spin. This forces us to give up our efforts. Abächerli: “It could happen suddenly. In water that can be deadly.”

Abächerli, on the contrary, says that a full stomach makes us sluggish. “Digestion needs energy. If we make an effort afterward, it may cause nausea or dizziness.” Abächerli says you don’t have to wait two hours after each meal to get back in the water. It begs for a sense of proportion. “We should consider whether we feel comfortable before we go into the water. If we’re still full of food, we’ll definitely have to wait.”

Having a drink with friends on a summer evening and cooling off by the river or lake can be tempting, but it can be dangerous, Abächerli says. “Alcohol decreases our ability to react and causes us to overestimate our abilities.” A general alcohol ban is unrealistic, but it is perfectly reasonable to avoid alcohol during and before your stay in the water. Especially in running water. “It is more risky to bathe in the river than to bathe in the lake. I’d always do it non-alcoholic here.”

“Air mattresses are not safe. Especially cheap products can be defective,” says Abächerli. Swimming buoys are more robust and therefore more convenient. They cost about 20 francs, are available in sports shops, are inflatable and fastened at the hips with a belt. «Valuables and clothing can be stacked on the buoy. And it keeps us afloat when we’re tired.” In rivers, you have to make sure you get the right model. If the belt gets caught in a branch, you’ll get stuck in the river and the current will push your body under the water.

Even if you know the place to bathe, Abächerli says, before jumping into the water, you should check to see if other objects are hidden under the surface, such as stones, branches or chains. Especially when the water is cloudy. “After heavy rain, wood that wasn’t there before can be washed away.” Even in late summer, a familiar bathing place can be unexpectedly dangerous: “In this case, the water level may be lower than in the first days of summer and the risk of injury increases.”

Even experienced swimmers can experience cramping, dizziness or circulation problems. “This is why you can never swim longer distances alone,” says Abächerli. There are no practical rules about when a route is too long. Abächerli calls for moderation. “People quickly exaggerate themselves in the water. In the event of an unexpected event, an escort can quickly provide or call for help.”

Source : Blick