Water safety must be at the forefront of people’s minds over the bank holiday weekend – Ward

This bank holiday weekend, we must bear in mind the importance of keeping safe around our coasts and inland waterways, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Dún Laoghaire Senator Barry Ward is calling on members of the public to remain vigilant and aware of the fact that, while our beaches and coves are excellent resources for a variety of recreational activities, the water can be dangerous.

Senator Ward said: “This year, there has been an increased demand for the rescue services. As the weather gets warmer, the lifeboat, the Coast Guard and other emergency services come under more pressure.

“It is always nice to see so many people visiting our coasts and swimming spots. Swimming, paddle-boarding, sailing, wind-surfing and using our marine amenities for leisure is part and parcel of the summer, but we must always remember that it is easy to get into trouble in the water. Conditions can change quickly and, if not prepared, people can easily get caught out.”

Senator Ward added: “The RNLI and our other emergency services are busy as more and more people make use of the great coastal resources we have in our area, and there have been more callouts in recent times than in previous years.

“Dún Laoghaire lifeboat, for example, has been called out on average almost once a week this year. This weekend last year saw a swimming fatality in Dublin and we must all work to ensure this does not recur anywhere in Ireland.

“We want to prevent tragedies as much as possible, so that if someone gets into trouble in the water, they can quickly be given the help they need. We don’t want to see a situation where emergency services are too busy to come to the aid of swimmers, divers or boaters.

“Please help our rescue services by not needing their help. Take care in and around water,” Senator Ward concluded.