FOR one young pupil at Otley's St Joseph's RC School, a most considerable danger of swimming in rivers was 'fish which bite'.

The nasty fish obviously worried him, but as visiting lifeguard Louise Wells was quick to point out, there are many more serious reasons for staying away from rivers and ponds.

People throughout the area need little reminding of the lives which have been claimed by our own river - the River Wharfe. Indeed, the tragic deaths of two little girls and then of a father in that river, should be a lesson to us all.

For Louise, a lifeguard at Scott Hall in Leeds, educating youngsters about all kinds of water is vital.

"Here, in Otley, it is very important to children because they are living on the edge of one of the worst rivers for safety. It is very dangerous and we all know about the deaths last summer," she said.

Speaking to older pupils at St Joseph's as part of a Leeds City Council-initiated lifesaving roadshow, she said: "And it's not just children who are at risk. Adults can drown as well - everybody is in danger. Now I want you to go home and tell your families all about the water safety code you are about to learn."

Describing drowning proved something of a problem for some children. "It's when you go under water deep and you can die," ventured one.

But drowning does not always happen in pools, rivers or the sea. Out of 500 drownings every year, 50 happen in the bath at home. "Anywhere where there is enough water to cover your face can dangerous," Louise said.

"Water safety is not just about rivers, we're talking at home, in ponds or during the summer in paddling pools, as well as the bath."

Through a Sega-sponsored video, the children heard from David Hasselhoff, Chris Evans and various Baywatch stars, who outlined the dangers of open water. "Everybody has lifeguard potential!" they declared.

Everyone - not just children - should avoid swimming in rivers, ponds and lakes at all times and use their local pool instead.

There the water is clean and clear and lifeguards are always on hand. In rivers and ponds it is dirty, cold and dark - and a multitude of dangerous objects could be hiding at the bottom.

It is also difficult to judge the depth of the water - and children who take the plunge could be in for a nasty surprise if what looks deep and inviting is actually shallow and rocky.

But the main killer in drownings all over the country is the cold. British summers can be hot but British rivers always remain cold.

And however sweltering it may be on the river bank, the freezing water can hamper the abilities of even the strongest swimmers.

Louise said: "When the summer weather arrives people forget how cold the water will be. You spend so much energy trying to keep warm that even very fit people get tired easily.

"That means you could find it hard to get out - particularly as river sides are slippery and uneven. Most drownings are just a few metres away from the side."

So if children know the dangers and how to avoid them, how can they help other people who could be in danger?

The most important thing anyone can remember is not to jump in after them. In fact it's just about the worst thing you can do - particularly if you're a youngster.

"You must make yourself safe first," said Louise. "If you want to help, never jump in after the person who is in trouble.

"The right thing to do is to go and get somebody to help and always call 999. Shout and reassure them that help is on its way. Just never, never jump in as well."

Instead, if the person is within reaching distance, lie down and secure yourself to the side by holding onto a tree root, grass or asking someone to hold your legs.

Then hold out a piece of clothing, a branch, or even something like a cricket bat or racquet if you have one for that person to grab. Keep talking to them, shout for help and send someone else to dial 999.

"You can use footballs or empty bottles so they can float with them. All these things you can do without getting in the water. One of the biggest things about lifesaving is learning how to stop and look before taking action," said Louise.

And if that works - and the person seems to be okay - a medical check-up is essential. You can die three days after the accident if water is filling your lungs. "It's very important to go to hospital because you can also be suffering from hypothermia and shock," said Louise. It was a message that has been taken very seriously by all the St Joseph's pupils. And as one boy warned: "Don't go in when there is a shark there!"

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