Concern over attitudes to water safety

NEWS that the three men killed in Monday’s boat fire were not wearing lifejackets when picked up by the coastguard has once again raised questions over attitudes to water safety.

Irish Water Safety estimates that if everyone going out on Irish seas, lakes and rivers were to wear a personal flotation device, the number of deaths would decline by 70%.

While there is tight legislation in this country governing the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) in commercial settings such as fishing, the legal requirements rapidly dilute when one looks at the recreational use of boats.