Open water swimming is a serious and potentially dangerous business and the safety and health of our swimmers will always be our first priority.
Medical screening
Prior to swimming all BEST swimmers have undergone medical checks by our own team doctors. In addition they have undergone heart checks by Sports Cardiology UK. Some of the team have also undergone unprecedent testing of their ability to adapt to cold water as part of Dr Bird’s research into children and cold water swimming – although this has not formed a formal part of the selection process.
Training swims: Canoe 360 and Surf Lifesaving GB
Many of the BEST organisers and volunteers are already qualified as pool lifeguards but are curently also becoming qualified as Surf Lifesavers (see Gallery). In the meantime Surf Lifesaving GB are providing invaluable safety cover, including a boat crew, when the children swim in the sea. BEST is also very grateful to Keynsham based Canoe 360, the UK’s first specialist canoe lifesaving organisation, which is providing canoe safety cover when the BEST swimmers are training in lakes.
The Channel Attempt: Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
BEST will be swimming under the guidance of the CS&PF, one of only two organisations in the UK authorized to manage channel swim attempts. Our pilot, Mike Oram, has guided hundreds of channel swimmers over to France and is one of the most experienced and knowlegeable pilots in the business. There is an important saying in Channel swimming – “The Channel will always be there another day” – our swimmer’s safety will never be compromised.
