How dangerous is it to swim in the wild or paddle board in natural rivers and lakes? Water workers took a look!
As summer approaches, more people are taking part in water activities such as swimming and paddling in natural rivers and lakes. However, is it really safe to play in natural rivers and lakes? Water conservancy staff conducted a test on site.
On June 21, Zhu Ziliang, head of the flood control management team of the Beihuan Management Office of the Beijing Urban Rivers and Lakes Management Office, went into the water wearing a life jacket and holding a safety rope. He is 1.83 meters tall and weighs more than 200 kilograms, but he can walk easily in a flow rate of 0.2 meters per second.
As the flow speed increased, the waves on the river surface became bigger and bigger, and his steps became more and more shaky. When the water flow accelerated to 1.6 meters per second, the sound of water became louder and louder, and the rolling water rushed in from the gate. Despite his heavy base weight, Zhu Ziliang was still pushed back several meters by the water flow.
Water workers went into the water to test the status at different flow rates
"When the flow rate increases to 1.6 meters per second, you can clearly feel the impact of the water on your body, as if you are being pushed. At this time, you will feel chest tightness and your legs can't walk normally." Zhu Ziliang said that at this time you need to swim to get up, but the water flow is too large and you can't swim at all, and you can only be carried down by the water.
"When the scenic river is flooded, the flow rate of 1.6 meters per second is just a constant, and it is often greater than this." Hu Lian, deputy director of the North Ring Management Office of the Beijing Urban River and Lake Management Office, said that in the entire river, when water comes from the upstream, the downstream will not feel the change obviously, and by the time they find danger, they may already be in danger. In addition, the water surface has a certain width, and swimmers may not be able to return to the shore quickly when they see the water coming.
The same safety hazard also exists in paddle boarding. As a beginner, Zhu Ziliang fell into the water just as he was about to stand up on the paddle board. "I still have a coach to guide me. If I play alone, I may be in danger and no one will notice it. If the weather is hot, I may suffer from heat stroke or physical discomfort and cannot get up by myself," said Zhu Ziliang.
Swimming in some areas where swimming is prohibited may also bring unnecessary trouble to oneself. Xu Yifu, a lawyer at Beijing Guantao Zhongmao Law Firm, said that Article 30 of the Beijing River and Lake Protection and Management Regulations stipulates that the municipal and district water administration departments have the right to demarcate and announce water areas where swimming, skating and other water activities are prohibited in accordance with the law. At the same time, according to the Beijing Park Regulations, swimming in parks or drinking water protection areas may also incur administrative penalties.
Xu Yifu reminded that with the arrival of summer vacation, parents must pay more attention to strengthening their children's awareness of protection when taking them to the water's edge, and take on the responsibility of protecting their children's safety.
"Although the main rivers in the urban area are landscape rivers, they also serve the functions of water delivery and flood prevention and discharge. Although the rainfall is not very large sometimes, because the rivers carry the confluence of rainfall from a large area in the surrounding area, a large flow of water will quickly form in the rivers, posing a great threat to the safety of citizens who engage in water activities in informal places in the rivers." Hou Yanfeng, director of the North Ring Management Office of the Beijing Urban Rivers and Lakes Management Office, reminded citizens to carry out water activities in formal places such as the Wenyu River, Chaoyang Park, and Bayi Lake. Formal water play venues will be equipped with professional lifeguards and equipment to ensure the personal safety of citizens.
"If you are on the verge of drowning, the first thing you should do is shout for help." Liu Kuan, head coach of Bayi Lake Lehang Water Sports Base, said that people can make sounds unless they are choking on water. If they have choked on water and are feeling very uncomfortable, try to turn your body upwards with your hands open to increase your area in the water so that more people can see you and help you.
If you see someone fall into the water and you can swim, you must protect yourself before saving others. Because when a person is drowning, someone swimming in front of them is like a lifeline, and the drowning person will instinctively hold on to the person, and both parties may even drown. Liu Kuan suggested that when encountering someone drowning, citizens can call the police and then look for tools around them, such as lifebuoys, life ropes or long sticks, to help the drowning person get ashore.
