Some positive news for watersport safety – recreational and commercial vessel activity accounted for just over one per cent of all drownings in Ireland in a five year period from 2017.
That means the lifejacket legislation is working, as Water Safety Ireland (WSI) chief executive officer Dr Joanne Walsh confirms in an interview for Wavelengths.
In its first ever national report of its kind, WSI says that drownings in Ireland have fallen by almost 17%, with 588 in total from 2017 to 2021 compared to 706 in total from 2012 to 2016.
A total of 83 (24.6%) of accidental drownings were linked to swimming, bathing, or other water-based activities excluding use of any watercraft in 2017 to 2021.
A total of 207 (61.2%) of accidental drownings were preceded by land-based activities (such as walking, hiking, foraging, fishing from land, cycling, and driving) in 2017 to 2021.
The five year report from 2017 includes provisional date for 2022 and 2023,
Approximately 60 per cent of all drownings, male and female, are for age range 40 to 60 years.
A total of 411 (69.9%) of all drownings during 2017 to 2021 were male.
Every life lost in this way is a family tragedy, and Dr Walsh says that the data will be further studied by WSI to prepare for more targeted campaigns.
As part of World Drowning Prevention Day, WSI has published a message in Ogham, the early medieval script and Ireland’s first written language.
Dr Walsh, who succeeded John Leech as WSI chief executive officer, is a GP with experience in the health and public sectors.
Her interview with Wavelengths is below
