Open water and swimming
Practical strategies
Dos ✅
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Ask the swimmer what communication and safety support they prefer. Agree on visual signals before entering the water and ensure emergency information is communicated visually.
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Make sure the hearing devices are dry and in a safe place, especially if there is no supervision of them
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Ask an audiologist about waterproof equipment
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Always swim with another person, especially if you don't have your hearing devices on
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Check the water conditions before entering, in case there is a danger that you won't be able to notice or hear the sounds of an emergency.
Don’ts ❌
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Don't use non-waterproof hearing devices in the water, very expensive to fix.
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Don’t leave a deaf person unsupervised in the water; they cannot hear warning signals, shouting, etc.
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Don't dive or jump into unknown waters
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Don't ignore the lifeguard's blind spots
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Don't fight strong currents alone
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Don't go too far into the water; stay closer to the shore