Warning over Bank Holiday drowning

ALARMING statistics suggest three people will drown this August Bank Holiday weekend.

The warning comes from Irish Water Safety, which blames complacency and lack of water safety knowledge for many drowning tragedies.

Roger Sweeney of the statutory body said yesterday: “Our message to the public is to heed the tragic history of this particular Bank Holiday.”

Alcohol consumption is a critical factor, he said. In a five-year period, 39 drowning accidents were attributed to excess alcohol.

Children under 14 are also in the high risk category, particularly those visiting farms with slurry pits.

Mr Sweeney said Irish Water Safety was introducing a new safety programme into national schools from September. Several hundred teachers, he said, completed in-service courses in recent weeks to implement the agency’s Primary Aquatic Water Safety programme.

Over the last 10 years in Ireland, 82 children under 14 years drowned.

“People most at risk this weekend are those visiting the coast or waterways for the first time this summer,” Mr Sweeney said.

“They transform from being infrequent water enthusiasts into Bank Holiday aquatic-based devotees. This infrequent exposure, combined with the casual manner in which adventurous types take to aquatic pursuits during Bank Holiday celebrations, leads to tragedies.”

Mr Sweeney, marketing and communications executive with Irish Water Safety, said a drowning accident analysis over the last five years points to the risk of three lives being lost this coming weekend.

“Precautions are paramount whatever the aquatic-based activity,” he advised. “If your Bank Holiday leisure time involves any type of aquatic pursuit then you need to know the risks and get adequate safety knowledge for the protection of yourself and your family.”