Safety procedures for safer swimming

• forces of nature, e.g. waves, cold, rocks, ice fragments, etc.;
• health issues (e.g. if you have a heart issue while swimming);
• effects of low temperatures;
• hooligans or drunks;
• dogs;
• security guards that overstep their authority or engage in illegal acts. Most of the guards are friendly and just doing their jobs but there have been occasional instances of crimes perpetrated by security guards in the past.

• never swim alone;
• zero drugs, alcohol, etc. (e.g. heart failure from alcohol or cannabis plus cold water);
• always swim in groups;
• wear a swimcap when we have our head in extreme cold water;
• wear a towfloat (swim buoy);
• don't leave valuables or attractants such as food on the beach unattended; and
• bring a camera or smartphone with live-streaming capability to record any incident (and anticipate possible incidents and begin recording before they unfold), e.g. hooligans, overzealous security guards, etc., and be sure to notify that the incident is being live-streamed (i.e. there is no way that the perpetrator can destroy the evidence). This is where swim buddies can also be of help, e.g. so that there are numerous people recording and streaming, thus reducing the chances that the perpetrator will try to grab a camera or smartphone of just one person.

Removing hazards: We all try to do beach cleanup e.g. identify hazards such as sharp metal, and organize regular (often daily) beach cleanups.

Low temperatures:

There are great health benefits to cold-water swimming, but we also are mindful of safety, e.g. easing into the water slowly and putting the face (vasovagal response) and head in the water only once adjusted to the cold, and also we often wear a swim cap to maintain congnitive capacity to think clearly.

Dealing with hooligans:

Most people are friendly, but for safety, swim in groups, don't leave valuables on the beach, etc..

Dogs:

Most dogs are friedly, but in general, we try to avoid leaving food out in the open, e.g. we put food in our towfloats or sealed away until consumed.

Security guards:

Most security guards are well-meaning and may simply warn of hazards. However, if a security guard oversteps the authority and enters into the realm of illegal behavour it is best to have a group response:

Dealing with overzealous or unlawful security guards:

What we usually do is start recording and live-streaming (so they can't seize or destroy evidence). Then they will demand that we stop recording. We often ask others around us to start recording and live-streaming also. If you have 5 or 6 people recording them, you explain to them that you are collecting evidence for use in court and that if they try to destroy or stop any of the recordings that they are guilty of destruction of evidence.

Most of the time this will make them cease their illegal behaviour.

If belligerence persists, once we are all recording, we ask them to show identification, i.e. to prove that they have authority over us.

Also we believe that the lake is federal property (Canada) so we believe that if they demand you exit the lake that they are demanding that you leave Canada and cross the border into Ontario, and therefore this would be false imprisonment which we believe is a crime. When we believe a crime is being committed we think we all have a responsibility to record the crime-in-progress and to also get good clear closeup photographs of the perpetrators so that they can be brought to justice.

Hopefully, though, it doesn't reach this level, and we can de-escalate at an early stage of development.

Technology for safety: We use various recording and transmitting technologies to ensure safety, e.g. live-streaming as mentioned above, GPS logger and transmitter, swim-path transmitted live, underwater seeing aid, overhead seeing aid, mapping of hazards for avoidance and removal, water condition monitors, etc..

See also, SafeSwim IEEE Conference Presentation SafeSwim: Overhead vision to help people see better

Safety first. Safety in numbers.