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Water Safety Tips and Advice
Marine Notice: Code Of Practice For The Safe Operation Of Recreational Craft
#MarineNotice - In response to recommendations by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB), Marine Notice No 26 of 2015 has been issued to promote and highlight the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft, as well as…
Number of UK Drownings at Lowest Since Records Began
#drowning – The number of accidental drownings in the UK has fallen to its lowest level since records began. There were a total of 338 water-related deaths from accidents or natural causes across the UK in 2014, according to a…
Coroner Rules Misadventure In West Cork Diver Deaths Inquest
#WaterSafety - Recreational divers must follow safety guidelines to the letter, a coroner has urged during the inquest into the death of two diving enthusiasts off West Cork last summer. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the two men in their…
Families Risk Lives In Howth As Waves Break Over Harbour Wall
#WaterSafety - Families were spotted risking their lives on Howth's exposed harbour walls in recent stormy weather conditions. TheJournal.ie reports with photos of some parents with children as young as toddler age frolicking under the waves as they crashed over…
New Website For Schools Promotes 'Water Safety Fun'
#WaterSafety - Irish Water Safety (IWS) has launched its new water safety website for primary school teachers, pupils and parents. The site for IWS' Primary Aquatic Water Safety programme, or PAWS, combines clear, simple water safety messages with material for…
Maritime Safety Strategy – What Does It Mean for Leisure Sailors?
#safetyatsea – Last Thursday (April 16) the Department of Transport published its Maritime Safety Strategy, resulting from the "Sea Change" consultation last year. By chance this coincided exactly with our publication of the ICC's independent analysis of the Marine Casualty…
President Will Open County Clare Lifesaving Training Centre
#lifesaving – President Michael D. Higgins will officially open a new Lifesaving Training Centre at White Strand, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare this afternoon.  The centre will train Lifeguards and the general public in Irish Water Safety's syllabus for swimming, water…
National Lifeguard Training Centre Opens In Tramore
#WaterSafety - Tomorrow (Monday 9 March) sees the opening of the new National Lifeguard Training Centre in Tramore, Co Waterford, as The Irish Times reports. The €500,000 inter-agency initiative will have a focus on training people for the growing discipline…
RNLI Advises Public To Stay Away From Cliff Edges On NI's North Coast
#WaterSafety - The RNLI is advising anyone planning on visiting its lifeguarded beaches on the North Coast to stay well away from dangerous cliff edges that have been impacted by recent weather conditions. Winter storms have dramatically changed the profile…
Beach Safety Programmes For Northern Ireland Schools
#WaterSafety - The RNLI is encouraging primary schools in Northern Ireland to sign up for two of its beach safety education programmes when they get under way next month. Running from March to June, Meet the Lifeguards and Hit the…
Irish Water Safety Hosts International Life Saving Europe (ILSE) Meeting
#watersafety – International safety standards of water rescue, resuscitation and water safety will be discussed when Irish Water Safety hosts the board of International Life Saving Europe (ILSE) for an Extraordinary General Assembly, annual commission meetings and best practice seminar…
Making A Better Kill Cord
#KillCord - Kill cords are an invaluable safety feature for both professional and leisure boat helms, but the system is far from perfect. It's easy to neglect to attach them, as was the case in last year's RIB tragedy in…
Christmas Swim Water Safety Advice
#watersafety – Irish Water Safety is appealing to the public to take extreme care when taking part in sponsored swims. Participants can be distracted by the occasion and take chances beyond what is acceptably safe and can be left without…
Marine Notice: Recovery Of Persons From The Water
#WaterSafety - The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport advises that, in accordance with SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 17-1, 'Recovery of persons from the water', cargo ships over 500 gross tonnage and all passenger ships on international voyages shall develop…
Irish Life Savers Win 51 Medals At World Championships in France
#watersafety – Irish Water Safety Life Savers continue to make great progress on the world stage, competing last month at Rescue 2014:  The World Life Saving Championships in Montpelier, France.  Ten years ago at Rescue 04 Team Ireland were delighted…
Lifeguards Compete in IWS National Beach Rescue Championships
#watersafety – After a busy Summer season, Ireland's top Lifeguards will compete in the IWS National Beach Rescue Championships at Brittas Bay, Wicklow tomorrow. (9am-5pm, Saturday 6th Sept.) Competitors will gather from counties nationwide and will include lifeguards from Ireland's…