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Swimming
in the UK is a growing activity; from babies to pensioners
about 350 million visits to public swimming pools confirm
this. Not forgetting the many visits to swimming pools in
hotels, gyms, health clubs, leisure centres, theme parks,
holiday parks and of course those in private homes. Sadly
there are still about 15 deaths by drowning in swimming
pools per year, that's 15 too many and doesn't take into
account drowning incidents in seas, rivers, lakes, streams,
lochs, lakes, canals, reservoirs, flooded gravel pits and
other ex-industrial locations. According to the National
Water Safety Forum; inland water sites are the most common
location for drowning in the UK. Year on year, between 55%
and 66% of all deaths by drowning occur at inland water
sites.
Whether you are a competitive swimmer, leisure swimmer or
just teaching your children to swim you may require a whole
range of swimming accessories apart from swimsuits, trunks,
hats and goggles there's nose clips and ear plugs swim nappies,
arm bands, swim belts, back floats and pool play items for
toddlers through to adolescents, as well as Bobins, float
suits, sun-protection suits and anti-chlorine shampoo.
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MC
- Speedo Male Fastskin FSII Legskin
Picture
Courtesy of
SwimStop.co.uk
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If you are a
competition swimmer, there's another shopping list with
male and female competition swimwear from Speedo, Tyr and
Maru including Speedo Fastskins, Tyr Fusion and Maru EXS.
For training there is a selection of endurance swimwear,
kickboards and pull buoys, training fins and paddles, water
bottles and towels, swim bags and backpacks.
The
Speedo Fastskin FS11 pictured left is the fastest swimsuit
in the worldincreases speed by reducing passive drag by
up to 4% more than the next best suit and is set to help
swimmers blow the competition out of the water in Athens
this summer.
Also the remarkably
affordable TYR
Fusion 2 technology, with some of the most advanced
aquatic engineering to ever enter a pool. First, they took
existing and proven, patented technologies like Turbulence
Control and TYR's unique water repellent coating in order
to reduce drag. Then they married it to their tried and
true innovations such as Fabrication Logic and Fluid Channel
Dynamics for superior flow. Add in their unique, calenderized
Isolated Compression technology for more glide efficiency,
and less drag, and you have the new TYR Fusion 2. It's what
happens when the past and the future meet!
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In order to become
a competition swimmer, hard training is essential and qualified
instructors are a must. They will advise you on the correct
swimwear and safety swimming accessories. Whether you are
a non-swimmer or a good swimmer wanting to get better, proper
swimswear is essential.
It seems that
official records for last year (2004) are not yet available
and the latest UK drowning statistics are for 2002. These
are published by RoSPA but are apparently consistent year
on year. The total number of drowning not including suspicious
deaths was 427, the bulk occurred through alcohol and falling
in as opposed to swimming accidents.
Pictured right
is the 'water
woggle' made of non-absorbent extruded polyethylene
foam, woggles are ideal for assisting learners to swim,
fun in the pool and for fitness exercises.
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Picture
Courtesy of
Weston
Williamson
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River beaches
will soon appear in land-locked areas of Britain too. Parts
of the river Thames and Irwell may soon be transformed into
waterfront developments. Plans for a beach on the South
Bank by the River Thames have been given planning permission
by Lambeth Council and a production company is planning
to convert an area on Queen's Walk into a beach by day and
a cinema by night for July and August, but a five week delay
may force the company to look at whether it is still possible
to produce the event.
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