Gone wild swimmin’

One of the many pleasures of moving to Cumbria last year was the opportunity to go completely wild a bit more often. I’ve been enjoying weekends and holidays up there for more than thirty years, so I’d already sussed out some great swimming spots (which will remain top secret!).

There’s nothing better after a day on the fells than to rejuvenate tired limbs in cold water, and with a sailing boat and a canoe in the inventory, to complement shanks’s pony and the (t)rusty bike, it’s easy to get into some remote spots where others might fear to tread water.

Our CEO takes a dip

With RoSPA having taken more than a bit of flak from open water swimmers in the past, it is now time to disclose that the CEO and quite a few others of us RoSPA folk often go wet and wild. To be even more honest, I have swum in some uncommon places, including all of the Great Lakes (some kind of bet), Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan (seriously, painfully cold) and the Ganges at Varanasi (spiritually uplifting but bacterially soupy). Also, if you take to cold water with all the happy, panting enthusiasm of a Newfoundland dog, you might as well swim there too, and I have.

Of course at RoSPA, we know only too well that people should never swim where it is prohibited (e.g. some parks, rivers, reservoirs and gravel pits), should never be impaired by alcohol and should not swim directly after a meal.  There are plenty of websites devoted to the joys of wild swimming, containing advice, information and recommending places to get wet.

And despite the image of bohemian freedom conjured up by wild swimming, there are quite a few pointers that I have learnt along the way, to suit my own appetite for “wild”. In Cumbria, my greatest fear is being swept away, so in a river if the current looks too fast, it is too fast and I look for somewhere more benign.

I also do a quick recce around the spot in case anything looks dangerous or has changed since the last visit – a boulder likely to tumble, a fallen tree or a jumble of rocks to get your foot trapped in – all need to be scoped out.

Swimming shoes are must-haves (light and easy to pack in a rucksack) to protect the feet and give some kind of grip on slimy rocks, as are trunks (middle-aged man alert!) because the alternative, though DH Lawrence-esque, could easily spook any passing walkers. Mountain Rescue has enough on its plate!

Not everybody was enamoured of the cold...!

Submerged, waterlogged trees are as rigid as iron and very painful if a sharp branch hits a vital part. So I go in slowly and get my breath before swimming and if the water is really cold (I’m a wimpy April-October type), I aim to stay within my depth, swimming parallel to the shore, in case of cramp in those tired, fell-worn limbs.

Most importantly, I have never, ever gone alone, tempting though the solitude is, and whether my wife, one of my sons or a friend is with me, we always have a brief chat about the hazards and what to do in an emergency.

But taking these precautions is only a tiny impediment to the feeling that soon follows once the body settles down and the “hit” of that peaty, cold water washes over the soul, the pleasure heightened by the glorious Lakeland surroundings. It is pure magic, a cleansing, invigorating antidote to all the cares of the world.

When you emerge, reborn and renewed, everything in your life looks that little bit sharper and brighter, there is a tiny, involuntary smile on your lips and, for the rest of the day, you walk, springy with joy, on a soft cushion of fresh mountain air.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA’s Chief Executive

 

Health and safety HASN’T gone too far

Following the Health and Safety Executive’s publication of their “top ten bizarre applications of health and safety law”, there has been a bit of a media buzz.

So is the HSE right? Or are the “elf ‘n’ safety” detractors, who believe that everything has just gone TOO far, correct?

We were asked about the issue – and here’s what we had to say.

Do you agree or disagree with the claim that some organisations are “hiding” behind health and safety laws to ban or limit certain risk-free activities?

It does seem that there are occasions when health and safety law is used as an excuse to ban or limit activities, when in fact risks are really quite trivial or when a simple risk assessment would ensure that reasonably practicable measures could have been taken to keep the public safe.

Over zealousness about trivial risks gives health and safety a bad name but there are actually many more cases where people are under-hitting.

If organisations are misinterpreting the regulations, does it indicate they are too complex and need simplifying?

In one or two cases, it may be that regulations are too complex, but in the main organisations are simply required to undertake a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment to work out what reasonably practicable safety measures they need to take.

Unless the activity in question is particularly specialist, this can be done by those people who are directly involved and who know the hazards and dangers and what would be a proportionate approach to safety.

Should people have to conduct risk assessments for events such as royal wedding street parties, or should they just use their common sense?

Conducting simple risk assessments is probably what most people would class as “using their common sense” – it is a common misconception that they need to be long, complicated documents. In most cases, they can be carried out quickly, for example as part of forward planning.

“Risk assessment” just means spotting any real dangers and working out if precautions taken are about right.

Ministers seem to believe there are too many trivial health and safety regulations and the focus should be on preventing serious risk in the workplace from machinery, materials and the working environment. Would you agree with that?

We would agree that the focus should be on preventing serious injuries connected with work activities – and indeed, the focus is on those things! The Health and Safety at Work Act is a broad piece of legislation that requires organisations to adopt a balanced and proportionate response to controlling risks. The detailed health and safety regulations which support it are not trivial but they are not what people actually read. In practice people need to use guidance to help them work out what they need to do in their particular circumstances.

There is plenty of information out there to help people do this. Some things like working at unfenced machinery or being exposed to powerful carcinogens without suitable protection obviously need to be prohibited but in the vast majority of cases there is no need to ban everyday activities on the grounds of “health and safety”.

Good health and safety is all about exercising judgement. People in authority such as councillors and managers need to be much more “risk literate” or “risk intelligent”. And third partiers such as clients, funders or insurers need to avoid requiring people to do things in the name of “elf ‘n’ safety” which are not actually required by the law.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser

Time for education on carbon monoxide?

Tragically, another death due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning has been reported in today’s news. There have been three cases in just a few weeks. In July a 30-year-old woman camping in Norfolk, and a 50-year-old man camping in the New Forest, died of CO suspected poisoning.

Although accidents like this are not common, they’re not unheard of – and this summer has, sadly, seen more than its fair share of tragedy.

The dangers of carbon monoxide are relatively well known when it comes to houses and holiday homes, with organisations such as RoSPA and the Gas Safe Register getting the message across that regular servicing and maintenance of gas appliances is vital for safety.

However, it seems that too few people are aware that any type of fossil fuel produces CO when it is burned incompletely – including gas stoves, wood stoves and barbecues. In an enclosed space like a tent, with little ventilation, using them for warmth is extremely dangerous.

We would recommend that people don’t cook inside tents at all if possible, largely due to the fire risk rather than that posed by CO; however, it is imperative that campers don’t take fuel-burning devices into tents for warmth overnight, when symptoms of CO poisoning will be masked by sleep.

RoSPA is particularly concerned about those who are new to camping, as everyday tasks carried out at home become a totally different kettle of fish in a tent.

Don’t underestimate how cold it can get, even in the summer! The ground sucks warmth out of you, so invest in a good all-season sleeping bag (or take your duvet!) as well as an airbed or roll-mat to insulate against the cold floor.

Take a look at our previous camping blog for more safety information, as well as general advice.

If you’re cold, and tempted to bring in a heat source from outside, think again – layer up.

Is it time to step up information campaigns about carbon monoxide for the next generation?

Vicky Fraser, RoSPA’s press officer/web editor

Pox, swine flu, and other epidemics

Whenever I hear the words “public health” a little thought bubble automatically inflates itself just above my head.

The same Dickensian images of London come flooding through: the greeny-grey miasma over an open sewer (or could that be the Thames?), the public water pump thronged by urchins with the pox, and noble-looking ladies coughing blood into their scented hankies.

But a string of Public Health Acts and the work of people like Pasteur and John Snow mean all that’s history, right? Wrong. Let’s replace the steel-engraved images of 19^th-century Britain with the 3D of today.

While we’ve done marvellously well to conquer, or contain, the likes of cholera, tuberculosis and typhus – other epidemics continue to lurk.

After all, public health doesn’t just concern itself with the quality of the air we breathe or the water we drink. Nor does it just extend to the threat of communicable diseases like “swine flu”.

The fact is that the health of our nation continues to be seriously compromised by an ongoing outbreak of accidents:

Did you know?

• Accidents are the principal cause of death up to the age of 39 in the UK
• Accidental injury continues to be the main cause of death for children after infancy
• Accidents diminish the lives of nearly a third of people in England
• In 2009, one death in 40 in England and Wales was caused by an accident. Roughly three times as many people suffer a serious, life-changing injury as are killed
• Accident prevention is, compared to other potential public health interventions, easy to implement and inexpensive to deliver
• The return on accident prevention investment, measured in Quality Adjusted Life Years, outstrips every other potential public health intervention.

Since we launched our public health campaign in March, we’ve worked very hard to win the ear of the UK’s top decision-makers. As part of this endeavour, we submitted a robust case to the Health Committee’s Public Health Inquiry.

If you have a minute, you can view RoSPA’s submission to the Health Committee’s Public Health Inquiry by clicking on the link.

More recently, Andrew Lansley, the Secretary of State for Health, made an amendment to his Healthy Lives Healthy People White Paper – which attempts to outline the future of UK public health. This update includes “accidental injury prevention” in its list of priorities. Hurray! The full document can be viewed online.

But it isn’t yet time to pass round the cigars. More work is needed to convince central and local government that truly effective accident prevention needs boots on the ground and strategies pinned to the board.

Though there’ve been some breathtaking advances in science since Charles Dickens’ time, there’s one piece of ancient wisdom that even the most powerful medicine will never make redundant: prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure.

If you agree, you can do your bit to aid our campaign by clicking the big, red “Support Our Campaign” button on our campaigns website.

Health and happiness to you all!

Michael Corley, RoSPA’s campaigns manager

Fear and loathing on the UK’s byways…

With many Britons choosing a “staycation” this year, there’s going to be an awful lot of traffic on the roads when families take to their cars for their summer holidays.

Almost every road accident is caused by some kind of human error – and nobody wants their holiday ruined before it’s begun by an easily-preventable crash. So how can you make sure your journey is safe, relaxed and trouble-free?

Camping in Britain

The best place to start is with being organised: if preparing and packing is a last-minute panic, the journey is likely to be marred by higher stress levels and that nagging feeling that you’ve left the gas on/forgotten your passport/abandoned your youngest child at home.

So leave plenty of time for packing your cases and the car; if you’ve a mild case of excessive organisation, lists are a wonderful thing. Even spreadsheets are not unknown for the real nerds among us…

Check your vehicle thoroughly before you even think of setting out. If you don’t know what to check or how to check it, get someone who knows what they’re doing to check it for you. As well as brakes, lights, screenwash, etc., don’t forget that your car is likely to be very much heavier than normal – full of luggage and people – and so your tyre pressures will need to be adjusted accordingly. Check your vehicle’s handbook for advice. And make sure you can see out of the back window!

When you’ve prepared your vehicle – next, prepare your passengers. Passengers, especially fractious children, may sometimes be distracting. You may find it helpful to prepare them for the journey by: telling them where you’re going and what you’re doing; showing them the map and explaining where you’ll be stopping off – and you can give them landmarks to spot, too; making sure they have plenty of sleep; making certain they have enough things to keep them occupied; and having some snacks and drinks inside the car in case they become hungry or thirsty.

And if all the above fails, remember: silence is golden, but gaffer tape is silver!*

Now you’re packed, everyone is present and correct, and you’re ready to head out onto the highways and byways of our green and pleasant land. But take a moment to ask yourself a couple of questions – and answer them honestly:

• Am I well enough for this drive, or should someone else do it?
• Am I taking any medication which advises me not to drive because of its effects?
• Am I undergoing some form of treatment during which the doctor has said I shouldn’t drive?
• Am I well rested and ready for the drive?

If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, you should consider whether you should undertake the drive at all. And if you’re tired – which is likely after a day’s work and a couple of hours spent packing – consider sharing the journey with someone else.

Even if you don’t think you will fall asleep, tiredness will slow your reactions and affect your judgement, significantly increasing the chances of crashing. Singing, turning the radio up, opening a window, using air-conditioning will not keep you awake. At best, they will give you a few extra minutes to find somewhere safe to stop. If you’re that tired, you will fall asleep – even if you’re driving. You don’t need to look hard to find examples of accidents caused by people who fell asleep at the wheel…

Baking on the tarmac

Of course, I’m assuming that the weather is actually going to be summery – judging by the recent weather, it’s more likely that travellers will face heavy rain. In this case, drivers should remember to drive to the conditions, bearing in mind that cars will be more heavily loaded than usual. Keep plenty of distance between yourself and the vehicle in front and pay close attention to what’s going on down the road. Will you be able to stop in time if traffic comes to a standstill?

Now you’ve packed, and you’re awake, alert and fit to drive. Do you know where you’re going, and how to get there? It’s amazing how few drivers take the time and trouble to plan out their route in advance, and yet it can save hours and help avoid risky situations. Planning rest stops into your journey reduces fatigue and gives you a chance to escape the metal cage and stretch your legs.

If it’s hot, and the car’s occupants are getting impatient, there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a traffic jam. Planning your route properly can ensure you have alternatives to sitting on a patch of baking tarmac, quietly fuming as your destination appears to get further away.

As the Boy Scouts say: be prepared! It can save a lot of time and trouble, and ensure your holiday gets off to a flying start. Have fun!

RoSPA

*Please do not gaffer tape your children – RoSPA cannot be held responsible for any ensuing temper tantrums!

Turning obstacles into opportunities

When one door closes, another opens – or so says the old proverb. Finding a way to turn obstacles into opportunities when it comes to health and safety at work is vital in difficult economic times.

Scottish businesses will find help is at hand, however, at RoSPA’s Scotland Safety and Health Forum, entitled Finding opportunity amidst cuts and changes. Firms will have a chance to explore current and future safety and health issues, not just by sitting and listening, but by getting involved.

In difficult economic times you may need some help to make the business case for health and safety to your directors. This event, held at the Hilton Glasgow on September 21, will help you to do just that.

Although, thankfully, in the UK notifiable fatal and serious injuries in the workplace are reducing, there are still more than one million injuries to workers annually and more than two million cases of ill health caused or exacerbated by work. Many thousands are still dying prematurely as a result of conditions such as occupational cancer. The annual cost to the economy is in the region of £30billion.

Despite this scale of tragedy and loss, companies that are hard pressed, especially during tough economic conditions, may ask quite understandably why they should devote precious money – and even more precious time – to upgrading their health and safety management regimes.

Here’s one very good reason to keep on top of health and safety: the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has estimated that the ratio between insured and uninsured costs arising from accidents lies in the range of 1:8 to 1:36. That means that in the worst case, for every £100 recovered from the insurer, the business loses about £3,600 – yet very few businesses investigate accidents and incidents, to see what lessons can be learned.

And an accident in which the insurance covers, say, £3,000 could end up costing more than £100,000.

In the case of a very severe accident, such as a fire or loss of a key worker in a small firm, such an event could spell the end of the business altogether.

But perhaps the most important reason to maintain good standards of health and safety is the human factor. Accidents are expensive in financial terms, but the cost to families, friends and communities is incalculable. Grief, stress and the financial hardship that often follow an accident can tear families apart.

No business wants its people to be injured or wishes to be prosecuted or served with enforcement notices by inspectors. With an increasing focus on corporate social responsibility, every conscientious business owner or senior manager wants to know that they have done everything they reasonably can to ensure safe and healthy working. No one wants an accident or work-related health issue on their watch.

Built around interactive sessions such as workshops, discussion groups, and panel interviews, the Scotland Safety and Health Forum will provide opportunities to share and receive advice. Case studies, top tips and practical advice will be given by prominent health and safety professionals from the region, covering key topics such as: the real cost of accidents, communicating the safety business case to senior managers, and important changes to Scotland’s safety landscape. Good safety leadership and teamwork are also vital for excellent health and safety cultures.

We’ve made fantastic progress in the past few years, with serious accidents falling throughout the UK. But we can’t become complacent; and some sectors are beginning to fall behind – notably the agricultural and construction industries. People should be able to come home from work safe and sound, no matter what they do for a living – and there is plenty of help for those who want to make sure they do so.

Sign up now for our Scottish safety forum – if you do so before August 10, you’ll receive a 20 per cent discount.

What price the safety and good health of Scottish workers?

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA’s occupational safety adviser

Carry on camping!

Holidaying in Britain is this year’s must-do if, like me, the recession (as well as the “summer” weather) has left you cold. For an inexpensive, fun-packed (no sarcasm here – I absolutely LOVE camping) staycation (I apologise for using that term) you can’t beat a good old camp.

Home from home

Our traditional British holiday pastime has experienced a resurgence in popularity in the last few years, with families, groups of friends and young couples all heading out into the wilderness to sleep under the stars.

Whatever your tastes and minimum luxury levels, there’s something for you. Holidays range from wild camping in the highlands of Scotland with naught but a tarp and a sleeping bag, through those of us who like a little comfort with our canvas, right down to “glamping” which appears to be the placement of a five-star hotel room in the middle of a field.

But wherever you are, and whatever form your accommodation takes, give a thought to safety – especially if you’re camping with kids. There’s plenty of advice on our new camping safety pages on the website, but here are a few hints and tips – especially useful for those who are new to the camping experience.

There’s loads of information for new campers on the Camping and Caravanning Club website too.

Camp cooking

The first thing to keep in mind is that cooking on a camp stove or an open fire (if you’re lucky enough to be camping somewhere that allows them) is vastly different from cooking in your own kitchen. For one thing, it takes longer. Much longer. So much longer that spam not only seems tasty, but actually is tasty! And although food cooked outside tastes a million times better, there’s a chance that hunger (and perhaps a tipple or two) will make for clumsy hands.

To cook, you need fire, and fire can be a real risk when you’re camping, particularly if you’re staying in a tent. Make sure you check the rules regarding open fires and barbecues at your campsite; some will not allow them at all and others will restrict them to designated areas. Practise using your stove before you go on your trip – and make sure the stove or barbecue is sited on a solid surface to reduce the risk of it falling over.

Some tents are designed with cooking areas; but most aren’t, and cooking inside tents isn’t recommended. Apart from the fact that you can get lots of condensation inside your tent, even a fire-resistant tent may burn. Investing in a tarpaulin is a good idea – they provide shelter from the elements, and mean you won’t be tempted to cook inside your tent.

Use torches, rather than naked flames, for illumination inside tents. And be particularly mindful of the risk of fire inside smaller tents with only one exit (I’m paranoid – a sharp knife could be a lifesaver in a burning tent with only one way out). Do you have a plan for if a fire gets out of control? Make sure you know where you can get water.

It’s always tempting to leave barbecues smouldering away overnight; however, it makes for a more easy sleep if you dampen down any fires and make sure barbecues and stoves are out completely before going to bed.

Packed and ready for a loch-side holiday

Lakes and rivers are stunning locations for camping, but keep in mind that they can pose a danger when you’re deciding where to pitch your tent. If you’ve got small children, you don’t want them rushing out of the tent in the morning and straight off the banks – camping away from the water’s edge is probably best. And if you’re in Scotland, the concentration of midges is slightly lower away from the water…

On a more serious note, one risk that is probably unknown to most campers (particularly first-timers) is that of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Most of us know about the risks posed by carbon monoxide in houses; but it can also be a serious threat while on holiday.

The burning of all fossil fuels produces CO and there have been deaths and serious injuries from CO poisoning in tents and caravans, including two incidents in which this is suspected this summer. Do not use stoves or disposable barbecues (for cooking or warmth) in an enclosed space with poor ventilation. If you have a decent sleeping bag, warm clothes and a camping hat (an essential camping item), you shouldn’t need to take anything that burns fuel into your tent for warmth.

Caravanners should have gas-powered appliances serviced annually, much like you would at home, and should consider using an audible carbon monoxide alarm inside their caravan as a last line of defence.

Many serious accidents involving young children on holiday, including drowning, happen on either the first or last day when there are lots of distractions, so ensure that the supervision of young children doesn’t break down during these busy times. If a child wanders off, check water sites such as ponds, lakes and swimming pools first.

Pop-up tent packing fail

A word to the wise: if you’ve never pitched your tent before, it’s a good idea to have a go before you actually go. Honestly. Especially if you’ve got a pop-up tent. They look great; they go up so easily; but if you haven’t practised, you will have a row and provide at least an hour’s entertainment for the rest of the campsite as you attempt to put your tent back down again. We whiled away a happy couple of hours in Wales at Easter observing the end of a family holiday. There were tears, and strong liquor was consumed by the hapless couple…

Finally, you’ll need the gear! Whether you’re a minimalist, a traditionalist, a happy camper or a glamper, GearWeAre will have reviewed something you need or – more likely – want. They’re a fully independent review site, and break things so that you don’t have to.

So, you’ve got the knowhow, the perfect site, and all the gear you need – get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. Take advantage of the fact that there are no city lights, and look at our magnificent Universe. And while you’re doing all that – stay happy and safe!

As you read this, I shall be up in the far northwest of Scotland near Achmelvich, enjoying the best of British summer time and attempting to avoid falling over things. At the time of writing, I was desperately hoping that an Ark wouldn’t be required…

Vicky Fraser, RoSPA’s press officer/web editor