Water safety warning for parents

PARENTS have been warned that their children risk drowning if they are use rubber rings while swimming in the sea.

The warning was given yesterday by Dave Daly, president of the local branch of the Irish Water Safety Council, who also announced that lifeguards patrolling the county’s nine blue flag beaches have been equipped with new and faster safety boards.

“Children should not enter the sea with rubber rings because off-shore winds can blow them out very quickly, with potentially lethal consequences,” Mr Daly said.

He added that there had been a number of such incidents so far this year, but fortunately none of them ended in fatalities.

All blue flag beaches are being manned throughout the day up until then end of this month by at least three lifeguards. One is stationed in the lookout hut, another on the beach and the third is out on the safety board, where he or she patrols on the furthest reaches of the swimming zone.

There are four lifeguards operating at Inchydoney because of its two huge beaches.

“When lifeguards are on duty, the area they are patrolling is clearly marked with flags and people should swim within these areas. If there is a sign on a beach saying no swimming then people should heed that because underwater currents there are deemed treacherous,” Mr Daly added.

Blue flag beaches which are patrolled by lifeguards can be found along the coastline from Youghal to Barleycove.

There are two blue flag beaches in Youghal, two in Garretstown, and also one each at Garrylucas, Owenahincha and Warren Strand.