Sh2out is a partnership between the British Triathlon and the Royal Life Saving Society.  They seem to think that they can give accreditation  to swim organisations and venues to confirm that they are safe.  Swimming in any form of outdoor waters will always carry  risks and therefore it is impossible to call it safe. Most outdoor swimmers understand the risk and therefore take their responsibilty to assess hazards to keep themselves and others safe. 

The sh2out campaign will introduce false claims of safety as well as  unwanted rules and regulations. It has the potential to impose the authority to allow swimming in some venues and restrict others. A longer term potential could encourage the introduction of wide spread access fees or admission fees. As people have had the right to swim in British waters for free for centuries this could become a significant infringment on swimmers' liberty. 

Those offering such regulations are not fully aware of the specialisms e.g. cold, ice water or long distance swimming and therefore are not the best to offer regulation with no experience. 

SH2OUT are currently approaching individual venues and organsitaion to gain momentum on this. This feels like a very quite process that is very much under the radar of public awareness. It seems that the British Triathlon are using their influence to unwittingly recruit numerous triathlon clubs who have water venues.

The fear is sh2out will regulate many aspects of outdoor swimming e.g. insisting on wearing wetsuits, restrictions on low temperatures, limits on nonconforming venues...

We want organisations to be cautious and aware that they are not obliged to sign up to the sh2out agreement. 

We want the sh2out campaign to recognise that we the established swimming community, do not want regulations imposed on our swimming venues (formal and informal).  We want to maintain our freedom with our swimming community and swimming activities.