Munster Express Online

Irish Water Safety (IWS) warned this week that, on average, over three people will loose their life to drowning over the St Patrick’s Day Weekend. This figure is derived from our statistics over the last 10 years. However, this tragic figure will decrease if the public observes a responsibility to protect themselves, family and friends from the dangers of cold shock, hypothermia and excessive alcohol consumption.

This weekend will entice people to enjoy boating, angling, surfing, diving and walks by waterways nationwide. However water temperatures are still cold (at sea approximately 10° Centigrade, fresh water approximately 8° Centigrade). IWS cautions aquatic enthusiasts that their bodies are not acclimatised and they should not stay too long in the water.

Of great concern to IWS the absence of a fully operational Recompression Chamber available to the public as the existing facility in the National University Hospital in Galway is no longer in operation. We want to highlight this point to recreational divers, many of whom will be going for their first open water dive of the year during the weekend. We advise recreational divers to avoid diving at depths greater than 25 metres so as to reduce the risk of suffering the bends and consequently requiring treatment in a recompression chamber.

Whilst the forecast is unsettled over the weekend, many enthusiasts will take to cruising on rivers other waterways. Wearing a correctly fitted lifejacket or Buoyancy Aid at all times will help avoid accidental drownings this weekend.

Alcohol is a contributory factor in approximately one third of all drownings, therefore the public is asked to exercise common sense when consuming alcohol this weekend. Furthermore, it is critical that adults supervise children at all times around water.