As the saying goes: "Fear the water more than the mountain."
On May 1, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released the "Announcement on the First Batch of High-Risk Sports Projects Directory," listing swimming, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, and rock climbing as "high-risk" activities. Subsequently, the official website of the General Administration of Sport of China also published the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in Managing High-Risk Sports Projects." Unexpectedly, swimming, a beloved activity among residents in Guangzhou, ranked first on the "high-risk" list. With the arrival of summer and the peak swimming season, many people's concerns have been heightened.
How Did Swimming Become a High-Risk Activity?
According to the classification of competitive sports, the first batch of high-risk sports projects includes six categories. Among them, "swimming" specifically refers to swimming activities conducted in artificial venues such as swimming pools and indoor aquatic centers. The inclusion of swimming on the list—and its ranking at the top—came as a surprise to many. "How did such a widely participated-in activity become a high-risk sport?"
The reason swimming made the list is primarily due to the relatively high number of safety incidents, including fatal accidents, associated with it. "High-risk activities" generally refer to sports that require specialized skills and pose significant dangers, and swimming, which can be life-threatening, fits this criterion. Statistics show that the incidence of exercise-induced sudden death is 0.25–2.3 per 100,000 people, with swimming accounting for the largest proportion. There are also numerous cases of drowning in open water each year, with a higher ratio compared to activities like rock climbing or alpine skiing. When the Yangcheng Evening News searched online for "swimming drowning incidents," they found no shortage of such news, particularly involving children and the elderly.
To this end, the Yangcheng Evening News contacted the Policy and Regulation Department of the General Administration of Sport of China. A department official explained that swimming was included on the list because it involves the largest number of participants and because drowning incidents in both open water and swimming pools occur frequently each year. Additionally, the safety facilities in swimming venues and their oversight still need further improvement and strengthening. That’s why swimming has been classified as a high-risk sport. However, the official also noted that as long as swimmers pay attention to personal safety and take proper precautions, they can still enjoy swimming safely during the upcoming summer season.
Expert Insights: Regulating the Swimming Industry
The unexpected classification of swimming as a high-risk activity has left many swimming enthusiasts puzzled. In response, an official from the Policy and Regulation Department of the General Administration of Sport of China stated, "Including swimming as a high-risk activity is also intended to raise public awareness, regulate the swimming industry, and ensure the development of national fitness programs. This is also why multiple national ministries jointly issued this announcement."
"In the past, swimming facilities in China could open first and then seek approval or file with public security and sports authorities—a form of post-event supervision. But now, classifying swimming as a 'high-risk activity' means that opening a swimming venue falls under the category of administrative licensing. The biggest difference is the mandatory requirement—new swimming venues, including those in residential communities, must first register with the sports bureau, obtain a permit and license before operating, or else face administrative penalties." However, the official emphasized that the public should choose formal swimming venues that have been registered with the local sports bureau.
Swimming Tips
1. Swimming Gear
Well-fitting swimsuits. Swimsuits must fit properly. If they are too loose, they can trap water during swimming, increasing body weight and resistance, which affects swimming movements. Therefore, swimsuits should feel comfortable when worn. In terms of material, middle-aged and elderly individuals should opt for pure wool or cotton-wool products, preferably in dark colors. Younger people may choose beach-style nylon swimsuits in bright colors to enhance aesthetics.
Proper swim caps. Wearing a swim cap is recommended, especially for women, to keep hair tidy. It can also prevent hair from turning yellow in poor-quality water. Swim caps should be made of elastic nylon or rubber and should not be too large, or they may easily come off.
Swim goggles. In unclean water, bacteria can easily enter the eyes, causing conditions like conjunctivitis. To prevent eye infections, it’s advisable to wear swim goggles. For beginners, goggles can also help overcome the issue of not being able to open your eyes underwater.
Earplugs. Water entering the ears while swimming is hard to avoid. It can cause discomfort, sometimes even pain or hearing issues. To prevent water from entering the ears, carry earplugs.
Floatation devices. Beginners are advised to bring their own floatation aids, such as lifebuoys (or life jackets) and foam kickboards. However, always check these items for air leaks to prevent accidents.
2. Self-Protection While Swimming
1. Self-Rescue for Cramps
Cramps most commonly occur in the calves and thighs, but can also affect fingers, toes, and the stomach. They often happen due to inadequate warm-up exercises or insufficient preparation, leaving muscles and organs stiff. Sudden intense kicking or stroking, cold water stimulating muscle contractions, or prolonged swimming leading to fatigue, excessive energy expenditure, body cooling, mental stress, or uncoordinated movements can all trigger cramps.
If you get a toe cramp, immediately bend your leg and forcefully pull and straighten your toes. For calf cramps, take a deep breath, lie back on the water’s surface, hold your toes with one hand, and push your calf forward to stretch and relax the contracted muscles. For finger cramps, clench your hand into a fist, then open it forcefully—repeat until the cramp subsides. After a cramp, switch to a different swimming style to return to shore. If you must use the same style, be cautious about another cramp occurring.
2. Self-Rescue for Physical Discomfort
Headache, nausea, vomiting
The causes of headaches while swimming may include chronic rhinitis, water inhalation, cold exposure, or temporary cerebral vascular spasms leading to insufficient blood supply. In such cases, quickly get out of the water, massage the Baihui point on the vertex, the Migraine point, and the Lieque point with your thumb, then apply a warm towel to your head and drink a cup of hot water.
Swallowing dirty water may sometimes cause nausea or vomiting. In this case, get out of the water quickly, press the Zhongwan and Neiguan acupoints with your fingers, and if you have Rendan, take one. To prevent enteritis, eat a few cloves of raw garlic. Also, do not pinch your nostrils and blow forcefully—instead, press one nostril at a time to gently blow or swallow and spit the water out.
Earache, tinnitus
Earache or tinnitus may result from water entering the ears or nasal inhalation. Remedies include: (1) tilting your head toward the affected ear, pulling your earlobe, and hopping on one leg; (2) covering your ear canal tightly with your palm, tilting your head to the affected side, then quickly releasing your hand to let the water get suctioned out; (3) using a sterilized cotton swab to absorb water inside the ear canal.
Itchy, painful eyes
Itchy or painful eyes may be caused by unclean water. After getting out of the water, rinse your eyes immediately with clean saline water, then apply chloramphenicol or erythromycin eye drops. Applying a warm compress before sleeping is also recommended.