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Briain Kelly, 24 Dec
The Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI are urging people to
stay safe if out swimming this Christmas period.
The increase in popularity of festive dips and open water swimming will
see a lot of people taking to the water over the next few weeks. Many
people will also avail of the opportunity to participate in coastal walks
and hikes.
The three maritime organisations are asking people to check that they have
the right information to safely enjoy these activities and that they know
what to do in the event of an emergency.
For those taking part in winter dips and swims the advice is:
• Never swim alone.
• Ensure that somebody ashore is monitoring your activity.
• Acclimatise slowly.
• Stay within your depth.
• Always be seen.
• Organisers of Christmas Day or New Year swims are advised to have
suitably trained personnel in attendance and to appoint a Safety
Officer.
Coast Guard Operations manager Gerard O’Flynn commented, “Please plan your
activity, whether it be on the water or along the coast and only swim or
walk in areas with which you are familiar.”
“Be mindful that less busy walkways may have suffered erosion since the
summertime. Always carry a means of communication, such as VHF radio or a
personal locator beacon especially if going afloat. PLBs attached to a
lifejacket are proven to be lifesavers”.
Water-based activities at this or any time of year are not limited to
swimming as the popularity of kayaking, canoeing, boating, and
paddle-boarding remains high.
The safety advice for these activities includes:
• Always have a means for calling for help and make sure you can access
it when you are out on the water.
• Tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return.
• Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.
• Always check the weather forecast and sea conditions before you set
off.
• If you’re exploring somewhere new, seek knowledge from experienced
practitioners in the area.
Water Safety Ireland’s Deputy CEO Roger Sweeney said, “A full moon during
Christmas week (Dec 27th) will heighten the risks for walkers and swimmers
as the resulting higher high tides will make our coastline more
precarious.”
“Stay away from the water’s edge on family walks and swimmers should watch
out for stronger rip currents. Stranding will also be a risk for many
walkers as the lower low tides caused by the full moon will expose even
greater areas of the coastline.”
“Children are often tempted to explore these sandbanks but risk being
surrounded by an incoming tide. Parents and guardians should provide
constant undistracted adult supervision of their children at all times.”
RNLI Water Safety Lead Linda Gene Byrne added, “This time of year sees a
huge increase in people doing seasonal swims and dips, particularly for
charity.”
“We would urge people when they decide to take to the water, to make time
to ensure they are doing it safely and with the correct knowledge and
equipment.”
“That time taken could save a life or another person’s life. If you need
to call for help, everything that you have done to keep afloat could make
all the difference.”