Think you know how to stay safe around open water?
Swimming in outdoor places like lakes, rivers, or reservoirs can be appealing- especially when it's hot, but they’re often unsupervised and unpredictable. Test your knowledge and see if you can spot the myths from the facts.
true or false
It’s only dangerous in deep water.
TRUE
FALSE
Not quite. You can drown in shallow water too. Slips, waves, or getting knocked over can happen anywhere.
Correct! Depth isn’t the only danger. Accidents can happen anywhere.
true or false
If someone is drowning, it will be obvious.
TRUE
FALSE
Not quite. Drowning is often silent and hard to spot.
Correct! People in trouble may not be visible. They might not be able to shout or wave. too
true or false
In emergencies, it’s best to jump straight in to help
TRUE
FALSE
Not quite. Jumping in can put you in danger too.
Correct! It’s safer to call for help and use something to reach or throw- if it is safe to do so.
true or false
The water looks calm, but I know it might not be safe.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct! Calm water can still hide strong currents, sudden drops. or hidden debris which you could get stuck on.
Not quite. You can’t always see the dangers in water.
true or false
Jumping into cold water on a hot day is safe because you’ll cool off quickly
TRUE
FALSE
Not quite. Cold water shock can happen within seconds, even in warm or hot weather.
Correct! Suddenly entering cold water can cause cold water shock, making you gasp and lose control of your breathing very quickly
true or false
I need to make sure me or one of my friends has a fully charged phone with us, even though our parents already know where we are.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct! If something goes wrong, you will need your phone to call for help and share your exact location.
Not quite. A charged phone can help you get help much quickly in an emergency.
true or false
Everyone else is jumping in, so it must be safe.
TRUE
FALSE
Not quite. Just because others are doing something doesn’t mean it’s safe. People can take risks without realising- or ignoring- the danger.
Correct! Following the crowd can still lead to unsafe situations. It's important to make your own safe choices.
