Swimming in open water

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
• Tell your commissioner.
• Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
• Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
• Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents or carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents or carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
• Tell your local commissioner.
• Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
• Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
• Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
• Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Ask for evidence that the external provider has their own risk assessment for the activity they are running for you.
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
• Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

For swimming in open water you must have someone with an appropriate Lifeguard qualification for the environment. Plus appropriate Swim Leader/Coach award. 

Appropriate lifeguard qualifications include: 

On beaches, non-patrolled and patrolled 

• RLSS UK National Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NBLQ) 

In inland open water 

• RLSS Open Water Lifeguard 

If the lifeguard doesn't hold any of these qualifications but offers alternatives, check with [email protected]. 

Where the lifeguard is provided as part of the venue or location, leaders must consider as part of the risk assessment any medical conditions, lack of water confidence, poor swimming ability or other factors that might mean a specific lifeguard for the group is required. 

Where the lifeguard is provided by the venue or location, we recommend at least 1 adult with up-to-date knowledge of water safety and rescue techniques, such as the Girlguiding water safety training module within your group. 

Finding a lifeguard 

Contact your local swimming club, the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) or the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) for information on booking a lifeguard. 

Wild swimming events 

Leaders should ensure that there is sufficient safety provision available, meeting the requirements above. Where swimmers move more than 20 metres from the shore there should be on-water safety provision. 

Swimming ability and water confidence   

Leaders must check the swimming ability and confidence in water of their girls. This can be done through either the the day events and activities consent form (PDF, 713KB) or residential event and activities consent form (PDF, 707KB) parents fill in that asks about water confidence and swimming ability.  For this activity the swimming requirement is greater than that asked on the consent form. Leaders need to check that girls can swim 250m. 

You can get good swimmers who have low water confidence if the environment in which they are swimming is different to usual. Someone who's a good swimmer in a pool may not initially be very confident in cold open water. Leaders might want to consider planning other activities first, where girls can build up their water confidence outside of a swimming pool.   

Those with weak swimming abilities or low water confidence must not take part in this activity. The leader should consider whether to choose this activity for their unit or think about alternative options for those unable to take part, for example could they still watch or do a similar activity?   

Activity providers may have a swimming ability requirement to take part in this activity. Leaders should check with the activity provider before booking.   

If a girl has a medical condition that will affect her ability to swim, tell the instructor so they can assess whether it is possible for them to take part safely.   

Water safety 

The leader must:   

• Make sure that safety rules and alarm signals have been explained to the girls, and they understand the need for instructions to be obeyed immediately.   
• Follow water safety guidelines and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are familiar with them.   
• Inspect water for visible signs of pollution, for example rubbish, blue green algae or chemicals.   
• Make sure girls and parents are aware of the symptoms of leptospirosis (Weil's disease) and what action to take if they suspect infection. On the day of the activity, advise participants to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help prevent infection. If they experience the symptoms within two weeks of participation in watersports, their doctor should be informed so they are tested for Leptospirosis, and it is not assumed to be flu. 
• Consider the conditions outside of the water, such as changing facilities and how to warm up. 
• Be comfortable saying “no” to entering the water if conditions dictate it or change. 

The lifeguard must:  

Be satisfied that the conditions on the day are suitable for safe swimming, taking into account: 

• Local advice. 
• The weather conditions. 
• The location and temperature of the water (water below 12ºC/54ºF is too cold for swimming). 
• The age, ability and state of health of the swimmers. 
• Natural hazards, for example weeds, rocks, state of the tide and any visible pollution (chemical or rubbish). 

International   

If doing this activity abroad, contact [email protected]    

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment. This may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place, the leadership team ratio is mandatory.

• Rainbows: not a Rainbow activity.
• Brownies: 1:8 – at least 1 adult must be in the water (1:2 for under 8s, with adults in the water).
• Guides: 1:12.
• Rangers: 1 leader with recommended second adult.

Qualified adult-to-participant ratio

The activity leader (qualified adult) should determine what size of group is safe. There must be enough qualified adults to ensure the safety of all participants. 

The number will be determined by any limitations placed on their qualification, permit or the rules of their operating organisation as well as the risk assessment. This should take into consideration the location, weather and experience of both the qualified adult and other participants. The leader should assess the risk, and any concerns must be raised to the activity leader.