Lifeguards are not babysitters, says CEO

Baywatch made it look sexy but in reality, the role of a lifeguard is far more pedestrian, if no less essential: In between saving 413 swimmers last month, lifeguards reunited 353 lost children with parents.

The figures have prompted the CEO of Irish Water Safety, John Leech, to urge parents not to treat lifeguards as child minders.

“Please take heed of advice given by the lifeguards and supervise your children, as lifeguards are not baby sitters,” Mr Leech said yesterday.

Lifeguards in counties Wicklow and Kerry were particularly busy in this respect. In Wicklow, almost 100 lost children were reunited with parents thanks to the work of lifeguards, while in Kerry the figure was 76.

In addition to restoring lost property to rightful owners, lifeguards swam to the rescue of 192 swimmers and used rescue craft to save another 221.

Again, figures were highest in Kerry and Wicklow, with Clare and Cork also featuring heavily. Mr Leech said the high figures on beaches in these counties reflected a heavier presence of lifeguards due to the popularity of the areas.

“There are more people on these beaches, so there are more lifeguards. There are also more rip currents in some of these spots so there is greater risk to swimmers and more lifeguards are required,” Mr Leech said.

In addition to saving lives, lifeguards:

-Provided first aid to 3,441 bathers;

-Gave advice to 105,853 people;

-Prevented almost 8,500 accidents.

Mr Leech said the number of drownings for July — provisional figures indicate 10 since May 1 — were down on last year, when 13 people drowned in 14 days in Ireland while the country basked in a heatwave. Mr Leech also warned people to be on the lookout for jellyfish.

Portuguese man o’ war jelly fish have been reported on Bunmahon and Clonea strands in Waterford, while barrel jellyfish have been reported on beaches in Cork, in the Kinsale/Garretstown area.

Mr Leech said that while barrel jellyfish are not as dangerous as the Portuguese man o’ war, they nonetheless had a “pretty venomous sting”.

Man o’ war should not be touched even if they appear dead, he said — they retain venom for a number of days after dying.

For information on jellyfish and treatment of stings visit HERE

In marine emergencies, call 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.