It's finally summer - yay! - and the water in the UK has warmed up just that incy little bit, meaning you can now get a decent swim in the lakes and seas without having to dash out and warm up quite so quickly.
Warm water though means it's....jellyfish season! We've spotted a few so far in swims on the South English coast and on the Eastern Scotland coast so it's fair to say they have arrived. So here is our guide to jellies and other dangers to be on the lookout for so you can make the most of the water.
1. Jellyfish
The Dr Who of the sea world - some species like the moon jelly can actually regenerate to a polyp stage and start their lifecycle all over again. So they deserve our respect for being pretty cool things but some can deliver a nasty sting. Here are just a few of the most common in our waters to watch for.
Moon Jellyfish
Found in all UK waters, the moon jellyfish has a translucent bell and four distinct purple rings. Its sting is mild and typically harmless so just give it a friendly wave and swim on.
Compass Jellyfish
This can be identified by its brown compass-style V markings on a translucent bell. They prefer the warmer waters of the Southern and Western coasts of England and Wales where they are a common sight in summer months.
They can give a nasty sting and often leave tentacle behind so avoid them if you can.
Lion's Mane Jellyfish
Now this is THE ONE jelly to look out for and avoid if you can as my goodness does it sting! They prefer cooler waters so are common in Scotland and more northerly UK waters. They are browny-orange to yellow in colour and have a mass of long tentacles that can grow up to 20 metres long and which give it the lions mane moniker.
What to do if stung by a jellyfish:
- Get out of the water to avoid further stings and any panic
- Carefully remove any tentacles with tweezers or a credit card
- Rinse the area with seawater
- Immense in hot water (40-45 degrees)
- Take pain relief if required
What NOT to do if stung:
- Wee on the sting - it could actually make the sting worse. And then you're covered in wee as well as stinging - not want you want!
- Ditto vinegar - it can help for some stings but make others worse so keep it for the chips later to cheer you up.
- Rub the area - it can release more of the venom
Weever Fish
These sandy brown fish have spiky venomous spines and bury themselves in the sand in shallow waters, leaving only their eyes exposed. They are incredibly hard to spot and can be seen around UK waters - while preferring the south, they are now commonly seen in Scottish waters as well.
If you stand on one accidentally you'll know about it. The best defense is some decent swim booties. They don't want to sting you and will move if warned so you can also try shimmying your way into the sea, shuffling your feet as you go so they get some warning to move, if that's a look you can style out at the beach.
Treat much the same way as a jellyfish sting by removing any spikes before immersing your foot into hot water (40-45 degrees centigrade).
Rip Currents
Rip currents are strong, fast-moving water channels that can pull swimmers away from shore. Experienced surfers use them to help them get out to deeper waters quickly but for swimmers they are something to be aware of and avoid - and understand how to safely get out of them.
Look for areas where the water appears darker and calmer, often between breaking waves. They may be taking seaweed or sand out to sea with them.
If you get caught in one DON'T try to swim straight back to shore as rips are typically far stronger than swimming pace. Instead swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current and try and keep calm. Raise one arm to shore if you need help.
You can find some great information on the RNLI website.
Freshwater risks
Ticks and leeches
The good news for lake and loch swimmers is that leeches are not common in the UK and ones that are present tend to be small and harmless but it's worth remembering to wear swim booties if walking over long grass into a lake and heading for a swim as it can help you avoid both ticks and leeches.
Blue-Green Algae
Probably the biggest danger in the summer months for freshwater swimmers is blue-green algae. The water may appear greenish with an earthy smell. Blue-green algae is known as cyanobacteria and can cause skin and eye irritation as well as a case of the V&Ds and, at its worst, liver and nervous system damage. It can also be highly toxic to dogs.
Avoid swimming, or letting dogs swim, anywhere you suspect has blue-green algae growing.
If you spot some while swimming, leave the water and wash off as quickly as you can with soap and water - including your swimwear and towels and avoid touching your eyes and mouth.
You can check for, and report any sightings on the app Bloomin Algae.
Final Safety Tips
* Summer water temperatures in the UK can still be pretty cold - particularly in lochs with snow melt so don't roam too far and stick with friends.
* Check local water quality reports and avoid wild swimming 48 hours after a heavy downpour as sadly our water quality systems are not quite what we'd like them to be - yet.