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Arran RNLI share cold water safety tips

Lifeboats News Release

The festive holidays are fast approaching and a lot of us like taking a refreshing dip in the sea to celebrate. But did you know that anything below 15C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement?

Christmas Dip swimmers with a RNLI lifeboat in the distance

RNLI/Andrew Randall

Cold water shock causes blood vessels in the skin to close, which increases the resistance of blood flow. Heart rate is also increased. As a result the heart has to work harder and your blood pressure goes up. Cold water shock can therefore cause heart attacks, even in the relatively young and healthy.

So if you’re planning on enjoying the water over the festive holidays please follow these top safety tips from the RNLI.

  • Check conditions before heading to the coast by visiting metoffice.gov.uk for full weather and surf reports in the UK and Ireland.
  • Wear a wetsuit of appropriate thickness for the amount of time you plan to spend in the water and wear a flotation device where possible.
  • Before swimming take a minute to let your body get used to the water. The initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away.

A spokesperson from Arran RNLI said: ‘Remember that cold water shock can happen very quickly: it only takes half a pint of sea water to enter the lungs for a fully grown man to start drowning! If you get into difficulty relax, stay calm and Float to Live.’

In case of an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

For more advice on open water swimming please visit https://rnli.org/safety


Notes to editors


RNLI media contacts

Andrew Randall, Lifeboat Press Officer (Isle of Arran), 07539 104601, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789


RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.


Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,200 lives.


Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.