A wood-fired sauna on the shore and a swim in the Atlantic is about as good as an Irish morning gets. It's also cold, open water. A few habits keep it the good kind of bracing.
Cold water shock
The sudden gasp and fast breathing when you enter cold water is called cold shock, and it's strongest in the first minute or so. It's the most dangerous moment of any cold swim, because a gasp underwater can mean inhaling water. Walk in gradually, keep your face out until your breathing settles, and focus on slow breaths out.
Being warm from the sauna doesn't stop cold shock, and it can make the water feel less cold than it is, which is a reason to keep swims short, not long.
Before you get in
- Check the tide times and know whether it's coming in or going out.
- Look for lifeguard flags and any local warning signs, and read the venue's own safety notes.
- Check the forecast. Onshore wind and swell make entering and leaving the water much harder.
- Never swim alone, and tell someone on shore how long you'll be.
- Use a brightly coloured hat and a tow float so you're easy to see.
In the water
Stay where you can stand, swim parallel to the shore rather than out from it, and keep it short. A few minutes is plenty between sauna rounds. If you're caught in a current, don't fight it head-on: float, raise an arm, and swim parallel to the shore to get out of it.
Afterwards
Your body can keep cooling for a while after you get out, so dry off and wrap up straight away rather than lingering. Shivering that won't stop, slurred speech or confusion are signs of hypothermia. Get warm and get help.
In an emergency
In Ireland and Northern Ireland, dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard. For detailed guidance and courses, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI both publish excellent, free advice.