Most lifejackets are dangerous, warns water safety chief
John Leech, chief executive of Irish Water Safety expressed concern that around 90% of lifejackets sold here were not automatically sold with such vital equipment.
“Without crotch straps, an inflatable lifejacket is practically useless and even dangerous. The straps are essential as they make falling out of a lifejacket an impossibility,” said Mr Leech.
His comments come as the Irish has learnt that drownings in Ireland rose by almost 20% last year.
Figures to be published shortly will show that 156 people drowned in 2007 compared to 131 in both 2005 and 2006.
It also comes as a survey by the Department of Transport shows that 15% of all children and 35% of adults on marine leisure craft do not wear a flotation device.
The survey of almost 4,300 adults and children on more than 1,500 craft, carried out by the Irish Coast Guard last year, found that 740 were not wearing life-saving equipment. The results of a similar survey conducted earlier this summer have yet to be finalised.
Legally, anyone on board a leisure craft of less than 7 metres in length is obliged to wear a personal flotation device, although it is recommended for everyone regardless of the vessel’s size.
However, no criminal prosecution has even been taken for the non-wearing of a lifejacket.
“The non-compliance levels are very disappointing but it must be stressed that they have been falling. Figures in Ireland for wearing lifejackets are good compared to many other countries,” he added.
Ireland is one of only a few EU states where it is an offence not to wear a flotation device. Irish Water Safety has also expressed concern that no standards exist for inflatable jackets in relation to the use of crotch straps.
“IWS is working in conjunction with the National Standards Authority of Ireland to develop a standard that hopefully could be used at international level,” said Mr Leech.
Although more expensive than buoyancy aids, which are normally used for training purposes, inflatable lifejackets are still the most popular type of personal flotation device used by sailors in Ireland.
“We find that many lifejackets are not fitted properly and are also poorly maintained, which makes them very dangerous,” said Mr Leech.
He claimed the increase in drownings in Ireland last year was probably linked to the record number of people participating in marine leisure activities and other water sports.
However, Mr Leech stressed that much progress had been made in promoting water safety over the past decade as the average number had fallen over the last 20 years from a record high of 239. He also regretted that many commercial fishermen continued to work without wearing lifejackets, despite being required to do so by separate legislation.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey said any survey that showed less than 100% compliance with the wearing of personal flotation devices was disappointing.
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