Glossary
Quarry
A pit dug for stone or gravel that may fill with water. Quarries hide ledges and machinery and are often very cold.
A quarry is a pit where stone, sand or gravel has been dug out. Many old quarries fill with clear, inviting water, and they draw swimmers and cliff jumpers every summer. The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (opens in a new tab) warns that water-filled quarries and pits:
- hide rock ledges, machinery, electrical currents and other hazards;
- can be deceptively deep and dangerously cold, even when the air is hot;
- have steep, slippery walls that make it hard to climb out.
Cold water adds to the risk. The National Weather Service (opens in a new tab) says gasping and rapid breathing from sudden immersion can be triggered by water as warm as 77°F, and that swimming ability fades fast in cold water. Jumping in from a height brings a risk of hitting hidden ledges; the Red Cross (opens in a new tab) advises against entering water from a height. Quarries are also usually private property with no lifeguards.
MSHA's message is simple: Stay Out, Stay Alive. See quarries, ponds and reservoirs and jumping and diving safety.
What you can do today: talk with your teen about why quarries are off-limits, and suggest a lifeguarded swim spot instead.